Court filings: US and Russia share notes on defunct Oregon charity
By APSunday, October 11, 2009
US, Russia share notes on defunct Oregon charity
PORTLAND, Ore. — Recent court filings in the pending criminal case of Pete Seda have revealed that federal prosecutors traveled to Russia in attempt to find proof that Seda’s defunct Oregon charity had been involved in terrorism.
The Oregonian reports that in December, federal prosecutors Charles Gorder and Chris Cardani met with agents from Russia’s Federal Security Service, who would get copies of computer hard drives from the Ashland charity that might provide information about Russian soldiers killed in Chechnya.
Seda is charged with conspiracy and tax fraud, accused of diverting money overseas for foreign Islamic fighters. His attorneys say the prosecutors had no business giving the Russians the data, while the government contends the arrangement was legal under international treaty.
Information from: The Oregonian, www.oregonlive.com
