Terror Suspect Zazi a Deadbeat?

(CBS)  This story was written by CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian and investigative producer Michael Rey

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing obtained by CBS News raises more questions about the 24-year-old Afghan national now at the center of a multi-state terror investigation.

The filing was made by Najibullah Zazi on March 26, 2009, in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Eastern District of New York. It was officially discharged by Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth S. Stong just last month, on August 17, 2009.

In his petition to the court, Zazi claimed a total of $51,491.11 in debts and just $2,400 in assets. He declared he was as "self-employed street vendor" with a monthly income of $800.

The filing lists 20 creditors - all for credit cards. The companies include Bank of America ($1,099), Capitol One ($4,162), Discover ($5,173), two cards from Chase ($1,365 and $3,974), and four cards from HSBC ($13,282 total).

Perhaps most interesting: In the five months between April and August of 2008, Zazi opened up 15 separate revolving credit card accounts eventually racking up more than $38,000 worth of debt ($38,786) on those cards.

In the filing, Zazi also claimed he was "unmarried," in contrast to statements that he had traveled frequently to Pakistan to visit his wife, who his attorney said he married in 2006.

Finally, as part of the filing, Zazi was asked the following question: "Does the debtor own or have possession of any property that poses or is alleged to pose a threat of imminent and identifiable harm to public health or safety?" Zazi checked the box for "No."

[excop1949]

YEAH...THOSE BLACK PACKPACKS CAN BE EXPENSIVE...

[spiritwalk]

Last week it was revealed that the FBI "informant" had paid 4 unemployed young men in Miami $1,000 each to pledge allegance to bin Laden and then they arrested them as al Qaeda terrorists.

At the moment if someone offered me $1,000 I would pledge allegiance to Walt Disney, but I would still not be as Mickey Mouse as the FBI in this war on terror.

[docpeter1953]

That sounds like total B S.

Go back to Afghanistan.

[spiritwalk]

The story appeared on both Nightline and 20/20 about an FBI informant named Elie Assaad who set up unemployed young men in Miami to take cash in exchange for staged pledges of allegiance to bin Laden and they were then charged with being terrorists.

Go back to school docpeter and learn to check things out before you express opinions.

[prajaowain]

I am your Boogieman thats who I am.

[rematenaj]

Ooooo, scared now!

[prajaowain]

More U.S propaganda!

[rematenaj]

Propaganda? How so? The man racked up the debt - then stuck the credit companies for it. He's a thief, there is no propaganda!

[spiritwalk]

If he needs to be a thief to survive then he certainly is not getting financial support from al Qaeda.

You cannot be much of a terroist kingpin if you have to hitchhike to your cell meetings.

[brucesmall]

If he opened 15 credit cards in five months and ran up $38,786 in charges, he was not broke. He was a thief. There is a difference.

[jckbrn-2009]

And you recognize propaganda??

[dronemonk]

Joseph Goebbels would approve of this "news story" and that it was spawned by a news organ's "chief investigative correspondent." He was broke! And he didn't claim bomb stuff on his bankruptcy paperwork! For shame!

[armyoftwelve]

Well if you're going to go boom for allah anyway you might as well have some with your credit card...shouldn't you???

I heard mohammed atta left behind over $5K in credit card debt.

[jwesel1]

Duh? I heard Bush started with a surplus and left behind over $1T in debt.

[bobnjersey]

[Finally, as part of the filing, Zazi was asked the following question: ?Does the debtor own or have possession of any property that poses or is alleged to pose a threat of imminent and identifiable harm to public health or safety??]

what does this have to do with a bankruptcy filing?

[docpeter1953]

I was wondering the same thing. Sounds ridiculous. Do they think a "terrorists" will say "Yes, I own a nuke. Would you like to buy it so I can settle my debt?"

[stuart-johns]

Terror Suspect Zazi a Deadbeat?

Well duh!