MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — Islamic charity founder Pete Seda is heading to federal prison to serve his 33-month sentence.
Defense attorney Steve Wax told the Mail Tribune (http://bit.ly/y2UtFn) that the founder of the American branch of the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation in Ashland is reporting Wednesday to the minimum security federal prison in Englewood, Colo.
Among other inmates is former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling.
A native of Iran who was well known in Ashland for promoting Islam, Seda, also known as Pirouz Sedaghaty, was convicted last year of tax fraud and conspiracy for smuggling $150,000 to Saudi Arabia from a donor in England.
Prosecutors claimed the money was for Islamic fighters in Chechnya, but were not able to convince a judge.