KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - Federal officials have confirmed that a Kansas City businessman who admitted sending more than $23,000 to al-Qaida and performing other tasks for the group was part of a small terror cell with two New York men.
The Kansas City Star (http://bit.ly/Ly6AZT) reports 34-year-old Khalid Ouazzani (oo-ZAHN-ee) contributed money to the terrorist organization through Sabirhan Hasanoff of Brooklyn, starting in late 2007. Court documents show another man, Wesam El-Hanafi, accepted Ouazzani's oath of allegiance to al-Qaida in June 2008.
El-Hanafi pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy Monday in federal court in New York, while Hasanoff pleaded guilty earlier this month.
Court records indicate the three men met in Brooklyn in May 2008 to discuss membership in al-Qaida.
Ouazzani is awaiting sentencing in Kansas City.