The Iraqi man, Abdullatif Ali Aldosary, who bombed the Social Security office in Casa Grande pled not guilty on Tuesday. Aldosary was indicted last week by a federal grand jury in Phoenix for malicious damage to federal property by means of fire and explosives and felon in possession of a firearm.
Aldosary’s lawyer, federal public defender, Susan Anderson, entered not guilty pleas on his behalf. A trial is set for Feb. 5.
Aldosary, 46, of Coolidge, allegedly bombed the Social Security and possessed a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony offense in the Maricopa County Superior Court.
Authorities found documents explaining how to build a bomb hidden behind a picture in the search of Aldosary’s home in Coolidge. Authorities also seized a handgun and rifle as well as hundreds of rounds of ammunition and several gallons of chemicals that could be used to make a bomb, according to court documents.
Law enforcement officials said Aldosary had researched bomb-making materials and gathered chemicals before detonating a small explosive outside the Social Security Administration office in Casa Grande.
Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on Wednesday with questions about the immigration status of Aldosary.
Gosar wrote, “The alleged bomber, Abdullatif Aldosary, is an Iraqi refugee who was given the privilege to live in our country, but has apparently repaid our generosity and kindness with repeated violence and aggression. The FBI reports the use of a high explosive called ‘RDX’ that is often used in terrorist plots. It is my expectation that this case will be fully investigated and the full weight of law enforcement brought to bear. The recent bombing in Casa Grande reminds us that we have to all have a responsibility to be vigilant and to alert authorities of any threats in our communities.”
Aldosary contacted Gosar’s office requesting help in obtaining permanent residency last year. At the time, Gosar’s office contacted Homeland Security, which responded in a letter that Aldosary’s case had been put on hold “pursuant to the terrorism-related grounds of inadmissibility” under a section of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
It is unknown whether Aldosary has a temporary visa or has refugee status. Gosar wanted to know why an Iraqi native charged with detonating a homemade explosive device outside a federal building hadn’t been deported despite his criminal history and being denied citizenship. Gosar’s chief legal counsel, Thomas Van Flein, said Aldosary should have been deported promptly if he was denied citizenship due to terrorism-related activity.
According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, Aldosary was previously arrests on harassment charges and a probation violation in Maricopa County. Those offenses were not considered deportable offenses.
In the letter to DHS, Gosar’s counsel Van Flein wrote, “But for the grace of God, no one was injured in the bombing,” Van Flein wrote in the letter to Homeland Security. “It appears to the congressman that a known terrorist was allowed to travel freely in Arizona and was allegedly able to engage in terrorism more than a year after DHS had already determined he engaged in terrorism activity.”
A conviction for malicious damage to federal property by means of fire and explosives carries a minimum penalty of 7 years and a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both. A conviction for felon in possession of a firearm carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with investigative support from the ATF, the Federal Protective Service, the Office of the Inspector General-Social Security Administration, the Coolidge Police Department, the Casa Grande Police Department, and the Phoenix Police Department. The prosecution is being conducted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David A. Pimsner, District of Arizona, Phoenix.