AML/CFT: US charges Turkish citizen with providing material support
The USA has charged Oytun Ayse Mihalik, 39, of La Palma, California (female) that she sent money to a person in Pakistan " with the knowledge that the money would be used to prepare for and carry out attacks that would kill United States military personnel and other persons overseas."
Mihailk is a citizen of Turkey but a lawful permanent resident of the USA.
The charges allege that she "sent a total of $2,050 in three wire transfers to the person in Pakistan over the course of three weeks at the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011."
In addition, one charge was laid that she lied to law enforcement investigators. Mihalik allegedly lied to the FBI personnel during an interview at Los Angeles International Airport on 8 August, 2011, after she arrived in Los Angeles following a six-month trip to Turkey.
Mihalik is accused of making false statements in a matter involving international terrorism by falsely telling the FBI that she had never used an alias when using Western Union to send money to a person who was overseas and that she had sent money only once via Western Union to a person who was overseas.
Mihalik has been in federal custody since she was arrested on27 August while preparing to board a flight to Turkey with a one-way ticket, according to court documents.
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