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Man Stopped at Airport With Large Sum of Cash and Laptop With Nuclear Information Remains in Custody
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ShareNovember 21, 2006 1:52 PM
The U.S. citizen who was arrested last week who authorities say was carrying more than $78,000 in cash and a laptop containing information about nuclear materials will continue to be held by federal authorities after prosecutors appealed a ruling which would have set him free on bond.
Sisayehiticha Dinssa appeared in federal court yesterday for a detention hearing and was granted a $20,000 unsecured bond by a federal magistrate. The prosecutors in the case objected and appealed the ruling to a district court judge asserting he was a flight risk. Judge Paul Borman agreed and overturned the magistrate's ruling. Dinssa is currently in the detention of the U.S. Marshals in Detroit.
Dinssa was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after he was flagged for secondary inspection on entry to the U.S. at the Detroit Airport. Customs officials became suspicious of Dinssa when a narcotics dog signalled the scent of drugs on the money in his possession.
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Customs officers also discovered that Dinssa was in possession of a laptop computer for which he had no power source. During an initial look at the computer, "inspectors discovered some files that had been downloaded with information about cyanide and nuclear materials," an affidavit from an ICE agent filed in the U.S. District Court in Detroit noted.
According to two senior U.S. government officials briefed on the matter, the files appear to beyond what someone would normally download from the Internet. According to the U.S. officials, Dinssa may have been researching the materials extensively.
In addition to the downloaded articles about nuclear facilities, investigators say there was an article about suicide in reference to cyanide, which concerned them. Officials say there are hundreds of downloaded articles on the computer. Forensic analysis is still underway by ICE.
Jonathan Epstein, a lawyer in the federal defender's office, said he had not been able to review the entire contents of what was on Mr. Dinssa's computer, but he said that his client had lost the power cord for the computer and had not used it in four months. "These are benign articles, protected forms of speech," Epstein said. He also added there is no way to know who used the computer overseas.
Dinssa's brother came to the hearing from Arizona and told the judge his brother didn't have any connection to terrorists.
According to Epstein, Dinssa had been overseas in Kenya for several years and had decided to return to the U.S. so he brought all of his money and possessions with him.
November 21, 2006 | Permalink | User Comments (52)
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Tom Vaitys- Makes you wonder about the bad guys getting through without their bills smelling emitting a cocaine scent to the dogs. Nevertheless chalk one up in the Atta-Boy and/or Atta- Girl column for law enforcement.
Posted by: tom vaitys | Nov 21, 2006 3:11:22 PM
Ever hear of a cashier's check, wire transfer? What kind of person carries that much cash on them? I'm sorry, but these days, you can't be too careful and the information on his computer is alarming as well.
Posted by: JBird | Nov 21, 2006 4:50:19 PM
This is very scary. Who knows where the money in one's pocket comes from? Who knows if the 100 dollar bill you have may have been used by some idiot to snort a line of coke? How can any of us know?
That an American citizen, returning home could be detained without charges for having all his money on him and for having no cord to a computer with just stuff from the net downloaded on it (even if it was nuclear stuff), shows you just how much freedom we have all lost!
Big Brother is watching us all!
Posted by: Steve | Nov 21, 2006 4:53:39 PM
Steve:
Not everyone is carrying $78,000 in their hip pocket these days. He is either stupid or he is a mule designated to launder money.
It is a pity he apparently could not or would not tell customs where he got the money.
Posted by: Bob Sherrill | Nov 21, 2006 8:09:21 PM
Steve A guy has 78k in cash and a computer full of nuclear/chemical weapons info, and you are worrying about our government? Wake up buddy.
Posted by: Frank | Nov 21, 2006 8:25:44 PM
Steve is worried about "Big Brother?" If we had one, 9/11 would never have happened. You "Lefties" keep dreaming about Abu Ghraib which at it's worst did not equal the beheading of Danny Pearle.
George
Posted by: Geo | Nov 21, 2006 8:29:50 PM
Steve I think you should quit your bitching. The first time someone gets by our security and causes a problem, you will be right there, I am sure, complaining that enough was not done to protect innocents; or, you will be among the horde saying we brought it upon ourselves. You have no idea what is on the computer. None of us do. As far as the cash, Jbird got it right. Carry a check. This guy is into technology yet he would rather carry that much cash rather than wire it to a bank? There is more here than you think. Give the good guys a break already.
Posted by: mike | Nov 21, 2006 8:41:11 PM
Steve:
It is illegal to bring more than $10,000 cash into the country without declaring it.
Not big brother, it is law enforcement doing their job.
Posted by: Paul | Nov 21, 2006 8:41:30 PM
Off with his head!
Posted by: Frank | Nov 21, 2006 8:50:09 PM
Remember in the 8o's when every 1 in ten $20 dollar bills had cocain on it?
Posted by: TL | Nov 21, 2006 9:10:12 PM
Ohhhh, I'm afraid! I'm so glad we aren't bothered by those pesky Rights anymore! Let's just arrest everyone--we aren't citzens anymore, we're all suspects!
Posted by: zeus | Nov 21, 2006 9:30:48 PM
"American citizen", indeed! Been out of the country for years. In these times, such 'Americans' should be checked out.
And, law enforcement folks should check him and his dubious story thoroughly.
After all, carrying that much cash is against the law unless you declare it, so let him pay the price (of being detained and screened) for breaking our (his) law.
Posted by: Paul | Nov 21, 2006 9:31:44 PM
Long ago Congress enacted laws that gave law enforcement specific and broad powers of search and seizure at the border...get an education.
Posted by: Lori | Nov 21, 2006 9:32:13 PM
ya, this is ridiculous. $78,000 is not arms trade type money. This guy could be behind bars for years simply on suspicion. Terrible.
Posted by: tom | Nov 21, 2006 9:34:27 PM
These agents took an oath to protect this country from both foreign and DOMESTIC enemies. You criticize, but has your daily freedoms been affected? I mean really are you worse off? Do you not think this guy is suspicious? Do you feel the agents should have just let him slide by? Would they have done their job by letting the guy slide by? It seems to me any action made by authorities now is considered "a loss of freedom" by people like you Steve. I would give my life to protect you Steve, would you do the same for me?
-Big Brother
Posted by: Big Brother | Nov 21, 2006 9:47:25 PM
Jbird,
If you have a $100 bill in your pocket and it alerts the dogs, then you will be searched, questioned and released when it is obvious you are not smuggling drugs.
When they search you and find $78K in cash that smells of drugs, they have probable cause to look further - as far as necessary to ensure no crime is being committed.
If he is merely ignorant and unwise, he will be let free and then can sue like everyone else who gets wounded feelings when they get caught acting in a suspicious manner.
However, from the story, there looks to be more. Assuming he had terrorist contacts, would you really think his rights were violated and want him to walk blithely through customs or would you think they were failing in their duty?
Posted by: Tom | Nov 21, 2006 9:49:00 PM
"Big Brother is watching us all!"
----------------------------------
Fine by me. I sleep better for it.
Posted by: Roger | Nov 21, 2006 10:01:22 PM
That's NOT an American name. I bet they are "Americans" who are Arabic. And in the palm of some terrorist organization.
Posted by: Treason's Greetings From The Democrats | Nov 21, 2006 10:21:59 PM
the legal limit without declaring it is 10,000. this guy broke the law.
end of story
Posted by: darrel | Nov 21, 2006 10:22:29 PM
Steve,
Wake up. The guy had nearly $100k in cash on him and a freaking laptop with nuke info on it.
What happy sauce have you been drinking?
If they want to search my stuff for the protection of myself and those around me....let them. I have nothing to hide.
Maybe you do?
Posted by: Keith | Nov 21, 2006 10:27:39 PM
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