Gem dealer admits link in missile case

Tuesday, March 30, 2004 · Last updated 4:47 p.m. PT

Gem dealer admits link in missile case

By WAYNE PARRY
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

NEWARK, N.J. -- A New York gem dealer admitted processing cash transfers for a suspected arms dealer who allegedly tried to smuggle shoulder-fired missiles that could shoot down airliners.

Yehuda Abraham, 76, pleaded guilty Tuesday to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing July 19.

In pleading guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Katharine Hayden, Abraham said he did not know what the cash was for - and didn't ask.

Prosecutors said Abraham handled the funds for the initial missile purchase by Hemant Lakhani, a British citizen who allegedly agreed to deliver a missile to U.S. agents posing as buyers. He allegedly obtained the missile from Russian agents posing as sellers.
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apus_story.asp?category=1110&slug=Missile%20Plot

Russians, Brits, FBI, maybe entrapment, came at a convenient time in the news cycle. It looks like it will go away quietly now.