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Grocery owner arrested by FBI is released on bail
By Times Staff Writer
Published February 24, 2006
TAMPA - A federal judge granted bail Thursday to a convenience store owner arrested this week on suspicion that he illegally funneled $136,500 to Europe and the Middle East.
Hasan Qasem, 42, was ordered to appear March 9 before a federal judge in Michigan. FBI agents there accuse him of violating regulations over foreign commerce under the U.S. Travel Act.
On Wednesday, government agents from Michigan arrested Qasem at his convenience store, Britt's Grocery, near the Lowry Park Zoo. An FBI agent said between 2002 and 2004 Qasem arranged money transactions so banks and money order providers didn't have to provide required IRS reports for exchanges of more than $10,000. In court Thursday, Qasem had an interpreter translate to him in Arabic, but he answered the judge himself in English.
His wife, Mary, attended the hearing but declined to comment. She blew kisses to him after the judge released him on a $20,000 secured bond.
[Last modified February 24, 2006, 01:37:23]
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