Mawaad was indicted on federal charges on September 29, 2005 and plead guilty on June 5, 2006. He used a fraudulent social security number to open a checking account and enter school. He also had an expired immigration visa.
Federal prosecutors took a special interest in Mawaad because he ordered several items from Sportys USA, a pilot equipment and training material distributor. Mawaad was not a licensed pilot, but ordered information on how to talk like a pilot and the layout of Memphis International Airport.
Read previous coverage of the case in the Flyer.