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Islamic Singer Pleads Guilty To False Statements
A prominent Islamic singer accused of concealing ties to a terrorist group has pleaded guilty to making false statements during the U.S. naturalization process.
Syrian native Mohamad Masfaka uses the stage name Abu Ratib. He pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court in Detroit.
The government says Masfaka was the Holy Land Foundation’s Detroit-area representative in 1997 and 1998 but didn’t mention it in a 2002 application for naturalization.
The U.S. labeled the foundation a terrorist group in 2001, saying it had provided money and support to Hamas.
The U.S. attorney’s office says Masfaka likely faces 10 to 16 months in federal prison before being deported to Syria. He’ll be sentenced on Dec. 14. A message seeking comment was left for his lawyer.