Ashland Islamic charity trial goes to jury
EUGENE, Ore. -- As the trial of a man accused of using an Oregon Islamic charity to smuggle money to Muslim fighters in Chechnya draws to a close, both sides have told federal court jurors that their job is to determine the man's intent when he failed to disclose about $150,000 that an associate took to Saudi Arabia.
Defense lawyers have described Pete Seda as a prominent Muslim in tiny Ashland who made friends with rabbis while adopting a centrist view of his faith.
Prosecutors say Seda was a closeted radical with ties to groups that smuggled cash to support the mujahedeen in Chechnya.
The case went to the jury Wednesday.
Seda is not charged with terrorism. He faces one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, and another count of filing a false return with the IRS.
