COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The federal government intends to use evidence gathered from secretly issued search warrants to prosecute an Ohio man accused of joining al-Qaida and plotting to bomb European resorts, a newspaper reported Sunday.
Christopher Paul, 43, was arrested April 11 outside his Columbus apartment. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of providing material support to terrorists, conspiracy to provide support to terrorists and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction, which carries the most serious penalty of up to life in prison.
Evidence against Paul was obtained under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, The Columbus Dispatch reported, citing court papers. Before monitoring phone calls and e-mails or conducting searches, government agents must obtain warrants from a secret FISA court.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Dana M. Peters and Sylvia Kaser of the Justice Department's counterterrorism section said in court papers they will use evidence that came from monitoring phone calls or electronic communication obtained under the act.