COLUMBUS, OH – Shihab Ahmed Shihab, 52, an Iraqi citizen residing in Columbus, Ohio, is facing federal charges for allegedly aiding and abetting a plot to assassinate former President George W. Bush. The FBI arrested Shihab this morning, revealing a disturbing scheme that stretched from Ohio to Texas and involved a planned cross-border escape. He appeared in federal court at 2:30pm today after the case was unsealed.
According to federal prosecutors, Shihab wasn’t just planning a hit; he was allegedly recruiting a team. The indictment details how Shihab intended to smuggle four Iraqi nationals into the United States with the explicit purpose of carrying out the assassination of Bush, purportedly in retaliation for deaths during “Operation Iraqi Freedom.” The plan, as outlined by investigators, didn’t end with the act itself – Shihab allegedly intended to smuggle the team across the U.S./Mexico border after the deed was done.
The investigation, led by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, uncovered a parallel criminal enterprise. Shihab is also charged with immigration crimes related to a human smuggling operation. In August 2021, he allegedly agreed to bring an individual into the country for a $40,000 fee, detailing a smuggling plan for after 60 days. He accepted tens of thousands of dollars in subsequent months for similar services. However, the “client” was an undercover FBI operative, exposing the scheme as a fraud.
The alleged assassination plot escalated into concrete actions. Shihab reportedly traveled to Dallas, Texas, in February 2022, conducting surveillance of locations associated with the former President. A month later, in March, he met with associates in a Columbus hotel room to examine firearms and even law enforcement uniforms, suggesting a chilling level of preparation. Investigators are still working to determine the full extent of the network and any potential accomplices.
“Attempting to illegally bring an individual into the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison,” stated Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio. The stakes are far higher with the alleged assassination plot, carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years behind bars. Matthew G. Olsen, Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and Jaime Carazo, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, jointly announced the charges.
Shihab’s arrest is the latest in a string of thwarted threats against high-profile figures. While the investigation continues, the charges paint a grim picture of a calculated attempt to inflict violence on a former head of state. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica W. Knight and Trial Attorney Frank Russo are prosecuting the case. It’s crucial to remember that a criminal complaint contains allegations, and Shihab is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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