LA Palma Woman Allegedly Sent Money To Pakistan To Fund Attacks Against US Military
SANTA ANA (CBS) — A La Palma woman is accused of sending money to Pakistan to help fund attacks against the U.S. military.
Oytun Ayse Mihalik, 39, a Turkish citizen with permanent resident status in the U.S., was arrested Aug. 27 just before boarding a flight to Turkey.
She had a one-way ticket and was indicted three days later and charged with making false statements to federal agents, according to Thom Mrozek of the U.S. Attorney's Office.
An additional indictment filed today alleges Mihalik sent a total of $2,050 in three wire transfers to someone in Pakistan at the end of 2010 and the beginning of this year, according to Mrozek.
The indictments allege Mihalik lied to federal investigators during an interview at Los Angeles International Airport on Aug. 8 when she returned from a six-month trip to Turkey, Mrozek said. Mihalik is also accused of lying when she told agents she never used an alias when sending money through Western Union to someone overseas, Mrozek said.
Mihalik has pleaded not guilty to the felony charge of making false statements. An arraignment date has not been scheduled on the additional charges, Mrozek said.
(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
