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News:

Iraqi-Born American Acquitted of Being Saddam Hussein's Informant

An Iraqi-born American citizen was acquitted Friday of being an informant for Saddam Hussein, but convicted of immigration violations. William Shaoul Benjamin, 67, of Los Angeles was acquitted on two counts of conspiracy and failing to register as an agent of a foreign government. Benjamin was found guilty of two lesser charges of giving false information during the naturalization process. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 14 when he could lose his U.S. citizenship. He had faced up to 20 years in prison if convicted on all four counts…Benjamin was accused of first working for the IIS while in Iraq and then serving as a paid informant between 1993 and 2001. Prosecutors said Benjamin was give the code name "9211" and he traveled to Iraq to train with intelligence officers. As compensation, Benjamin allegedly received separate payments of $2,000, $2,500 and $4,000 between 1994 and 1996 as well as two bottles of whiskey from IIS officers…..(AP, 8 Feb 08)

Trial Goes on Against Accused Iraqi Spy

A former Iraqi intelligence officer identified documents in federal court Wednesday bearing the name of an Iraqi-born American citizen accused of working in the United States as a spy for former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Referred to only as "Mr. Sargon" to protect his identity, the witness said he recognized documents belonging to the Iraqi Intelligence Service that were signed by defendant William Shaoul Benjamin, 67, of Los Angeles…In initial testimony Tuesday, "Mr. Sargon" said he had been an intelligence officer in Iraq from July 1979 until April 2003, when Saddam's government was toppled by the U.S.-led invasion. He said Saddam's government had a unit, "M-40," known as the Department of Enemy Activities,  that investigated anti-Iraqi groups outside of the country, including Assyrians…..(ABC, 30 Jan 08)

West Hills Man Indicted on Charges of Spying for Hussein in the 1990s

A 64-year-old man from West Hills has been indicted on charges that he secretly worked for Saddam Hussein's intelligence services throughout the 1990s by infiltrating groups in the United States considered hostile to the former Iraqi regime, the FBI announced Wednesday. William Shaoul Benjamin was arrested Sept. 14 for allegedly acting as a foreign agent without registering with the attorney general, as required by law. He also was charged with lying under oath to immigration officials…..(LA Times, 21 Sep 06)

FBI: LA man allegedly worked for Saddam Hussein's regime

William Shaoul Benjamin, 64, of Los Angeles also faces charges of making false statements and conspiracy, according to the FBI. On Monday, Benjamin pleaded not guilty and was released on $500,000 bond with electric monitoring following his arrest on Sept. 14. Codenamed "9211," Benjamin allegedly worked with the Iraqi Intelligence Service between 1993 and 2001, infiltrating groups and organizations considered hostile to Saddam's government and relaying information to his Iraqi handlers. Prosecutors refused to say which groups he allegedly monitored…..(AP, 20 Sep 06)

Los Angeles Man Arrested on Charges He Failed to Register as an Agent for the Former Iraqi Regime

William Shaoul Benjamin, 64, of Los Angeles, was taken into custody last week on charges he worked for the former Iraqi regime which was controlled by Saddam Hussein, and failed to notify the United States government…According to the indictment, returned under seal by a grand jury in the Central District of California, and unsealed after his arrest last Thursday, Benjamin conspired with others to act as an agent of a foreign government --namely, the government of Iraq -- without prior notification to the Attorney General of the United States, as required by law. Benjamin is also charged with making false statements under oath to United States immigration authorities. According to the indictment, Benjamin communicated with co-conspirators who were intelligence officers of the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) and was given the “symbol” or codename “9211” by the IIS. Benjamin allegedly received direction from and acted under the control of his IIS coconspirators. The indictment further alleges that Benjamin would infiltrate groups and organizations located in the United States that were considered by the IIS to be hostile to the Government of Iraq, which was controlled by Saddam Hussein. Benjamin would collect information regarding these groups and the individuals associated with them and provide it to IIS officers. Benjamin is alleged to have traveled to Iraq to train with the IIS and would be compensated by the IIS for his services….(FBI Press Release, 20 Sep 06)

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