Two Afghan Refugees At Fort McCoy Charged With Sex Crimes Against Minor And Domestic Abuse
Two Afghan refugees have been federally indicted for crimes committed while they are staying at Wisconsin’s Fort McCoy.
Bahrullah Noori, a 20-year-old Afghan evacuee, is being charged with attempting to engage in a sexual act with a minor, using force against that person along with three other counts of engaging in a sex act with a minor, according to DOJ.
Noori’s alleged victims are under the age of 16. Also, 32-year-old Mohammad Haroon Imaad is being charged with assaulting his wife by choking and suffocating her on September 17.
From DOJ:
A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictments today. You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
In unrelated cases, two individuals have been charged with crimes while at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Bahrullah Noori, 20, is charged with attempting to engage in a sexual act with a minor using force against that person, and with three counts of engaging in a sexual act with a minor, with one count alleging the use of force.
The indictment alleges that that the victims had not attained the age of 16 years and were at least four years younger than the defendant.
Mohammad Haroon Imaad, 32, is charged with assaulting his spouse by strangling and suffocating her. The indictment alleges that the assault occurred on September 7, 2021.
Noori and Imaad were charged previously in complaints filed in U.S. District Court. They made initial appearances in Madison on September 16 and are being detained at the Dane County Jail.
Noori and Imaad are scheduled for arraignment tomorrow, September 23, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., respectively, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen L. Crocker.
If convicted, Noori faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years and a maximum of life in federal prison on the charges alleging use of force, and a maximum penalty of 15 years on the other two charges.
Imaad faces a maximum penalty of 10 years. The charges against them are the result of investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort McCoy Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Taylor Kraus is handling the Noori prosecution and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Corey is handling the Imaad prosecution.
NEW: Two Afghan refugees charged with federal crimes at Fort McCoy:
— Adam Shaw (@AdamShawNY) September 23, 2021
Bahrullah Noori is charged with attempting to engage in a sexual act with a minor using force, three counts of engaging in a sexual act with a minor, with one alleging use of force. https://t.co/V2B6kYPbZe
Meanwhile, the other Afghan refugee, Mohammad Haroon Imaad is charged with assaulting his spouse by strangling and suffocating her. https://t.co/V2B6kYPbZe
— Adam Shaw (@AdamShawNY) September 23, 2021