The Pete Seda case

The story so far

October 1997: Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation in Saudi Arabia appoints Soliman Al-Buthi its treasurer. Al-Buthi travels to Ashland to form a chapter.

December 1997: Al-Buthi buys a home at 3800 Highway 99, Ashland, as a prayer house and residence for Pete Seda.

February 1999: Al-Haramain incorporates its Oregon chapter through the Secretary of State’s Office, stating it “stands against terrorism, injustice, or subversive activities in any form.” Seda is listed as the registered agent.

February 2000: An Egyptian doctor in England wires $150,000 to the foundation’s Ashland bank account to aid Muslims in Chechnya.

March 2000: Al-Buthi comes to Ashland, where he and Seda get $130,000 in travelers’ checks and a $21,000 cashier’s check. Al-Buthi takes the money to Saudi Arabia without declaring it and cashes the checks.

May 2000: Al-Buthi legally transports $275,000 in traveler’s checks from Saudi Arabia to Ashland for deposit.

June 2000: The foundation buys a prayer house in Springfield, Mo., for $378,291.74.

Sept. 11, 2001: Al-Qaida terrorists attack the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

October 2001: Seda fails to report the $130,000 in travelers’ checks properly on the foundation’s 2000 tax return.

March 2002: The U.S. Treasury Department designates six foreign Al-Haramain chapters as supporters of terrorism.

March 2003: Shortly after an FBI interview, Seda leaves the United States for the United Arab Emirates.

Feb. 18, 2004: Federal agents search Seda’s residence. The chapter’s assets and property are frozen a day later.

June 2004: Saudi Arabia dissolves the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation.

September 2004: U.S. Department of Treasury designates Al-Buthi and the Al-Haramain chapter as supporters of terrorism. The government claims it has information that the Chechan donation handled by Al-Buthi and Seda was diverted to support Chechen leaders affiliated with the al-Qaida network.

Feb. 17, 2005: Seda, Al-Buthi and the Al-Haramain Foundation’s Oregon chapter are indicted on felony charges of illegally transporting money out of the United States, tax fraud and conspiracy to defraud the United States. International arrest warrants are issued for Seda and Al-Buthi.

Aug. 4, 2005: Federal attorneys file motion to dismiss charges against the foundation and declare continuing investigations of Seda and Al-Buthi.

Aug. 21, 2005: Federal agents believe Al-Buthi is in Saudi Arabia and that Seda may be in his native Iran. Neither country has extradition agreements with the United States.

May 2006: Federal agents sell Seda’s former residence at auction. Assets remain frozen.

Aug. 15, 2007: Seda flies from Germany to Portland, where he surrenders and is arrested by federal agents. Seda is later lodged at the Lane County Jail.

Aug. 22, 2007: The first of several detention hearings occur in U.S. District Court over whether Seda should be released from the Lane County Jail while he awaits trial.

Nov. 30, 2007: Seda is released from the Lane County Jail and returns to Ashland. He later moves to Portland, where he remains.

Aug. 30, 2010: After several delays and hundreds of court filings, Seda’s trial is set to begin with jury selection. The trial is expected to take two weeks.

Sept. 10, 2010: A federal jury convicts Seda of one count of conspiracy to defraud the government and one count of filing a false tax return for his role in helping relay $150,000 to Muslim fighters in Chechnya.

Jan. 20, 2011: Seda is freed from Lane County Jail and returns to Portland while his attorneys attempt to have his convictions tossed out, arguing that the government withheld evidence.

Aug. 11, 2011: U.S. District Court Judge Michael Hogan denies all of Seda's defense team's motions seeking acquittal or a new trial over Seda's financial activities in 2000 involving the defunct Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation chapter he ran in Ashland.

Sept. 27, 2011: Seda is sentenced to 33 month in prison.

Feb. 29, 2012: Seda begins serving his sentence at Federal Correctional Institution of Englewood, a low-security prison 15 miles outside of Denver. He will serve time while he appeals his September 2010 convictions.