Republican Donor Indicted for Financing Terrorism
Before he allegedly wired funds to support terrorist training camps and buy recruits gear like night vision goggles, Alishtari gave $15,500 to the National Republican Congressional Committee between 2002 and 2004, according to Federal Election Commission records. That amount includes $13,000 in 2003, a year when he claims to have been named NRCC New York State Businessman of the Year.
Alishtari also claims to be a lifetime member of the National Republican Senate Committee's Inner Circle, which the NRCC describes as "an impressive cross section of American society -- community leaders, business executives, entrepreneurs, retirees, and sports and entertainment celebrities -- all of whom hold a deep interest in our nation's prosperity and security."
NRSC annual membership requires a donation of $2,000 (or $3,000 per couple), while lifetime membership requires a one-time gift of $15,000 (or $20,000 per couple), according to the NRSC's website. A spokeswoman for the NRSC confirmed that Alishtari has been a donor, but could not provide figures.
In addition to the terrorism charges, Alishtari stands accused of money laundering and wire fraud for transferring $25,000 from a New York bank to one in Montreal allegedly en route to terrorists overseas.
Federal prosecutors say between 1998 and 2004 Alishtari swindled millions of dollars from in for a loan investment schemed he called the "Flat Electronic Data Interchange," promising his investors they would received high rates of return, according to the indictment.
The case parallels – and may be related to -- a recent scam in Ontario, Canada where scammers in 2003 bilked investors of $7 million, offering a 30% return every month for 10 years on investments -- minimum investment $125,000 -- supposedly selling "seats" on a new commodity exchange called…you guessed it – a "flat electronic data interchange" The FEDI was said to be in Dubai, backed by royal Arab families.
Alishtari CV describes himself as a member of the Arab Bankers Association of America, and starting in 1998, president of the foreign office of the "Flat Data Exchange Interchange for UAE Gulf consortium. He says he is the founder of IDPixie, an identify theft protection firm, and is also listed as the president of Global Protector Inc. for some of his GOP gifts.