FBI Search Linked To Jailed Students

By CHRIS ECHEGARAY The Tampa Tribune

Published: Aug 12, 2007

TAMPA - The FBI searched a Temple Terrace home Saturday morning in connection with the two University of South Florida students jailed in South Carolina on charges of possessing a pipe bomb.

Authorities had a search warrant for 12402 Pampas Place, FBI special agent Dave Couvertier said. He would not say what authorities were looking for, what was removed or how the house is connected to the two students.

The house is owned by Noor and Ana Salhab, according to the Hillsborough County property appraiser's Web site.

Ahmed Bedier, executive director of the Tampa office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said late Saturday he and the family of one of the students, Youssef Megahed, were unaware of the search warrant.

Bedier spoke to Noor Salhab, who is a Realtor and owns the home. Salhab told Bedier the Pampas Place home has been for sale for a year. Bedier said Salhab said the house is rented to college students until it's sold.

A friend of the other jailed student is a tenant of the house, Salhab told Bedier. Ahmed Mohamed was looking to move and was invited by the friend to move in. Salhab told Bedier he never met Mohamed.

Mohamed had moved some of his belongings to the house but never fully moved in or paid anything, Salhab told Bedier. Salhab told Bedier he didn't know Mohamed had moved things in until the search warrant by the FBI.

Meanwhile, Megahed's family visited him Friday at Berkeley County Detention Center in Moncks Corner, S.C.

He remains calm, healthy and is not depressed, his sister, Mariam Megahed, said Saturday at a news conference in Tampa.

Mariam Megahed said her 21-year-old brother assured his family he "did not have bad intentions and that once the true nature of the evidence is displayed, he will be exonerated."

Megahed and Mohamed, 24, both students at the University of South Florida, were charged Monday with possession of an incendiary or explosive device. Mohamed said in court they were carrying fireworks.

South Carolina authorities said the men had a pipe bomb and related paraphernalia in their car when they were pulled over for speeding on Aug. 4.

The Megaheds said in a statement that they have faith in the justice system and continue to cooperate with law enforcement. The family is originally from Egypt, but they said they love the United States and consider it home.

Bedier said earlier Saturday that speculation of what the men were doing will end after authorities release the evidence.

"Whatever they were up to, they have to be held accountable," Bedier said at the news conference. "But not based on suspicion; it has to be based on evidence."

Reporter Chris Echegaray can be reached at (813) 259-7920 or cechegaray@tampatrib.com.