Trial date set for Cedar Point terror suspects

SANDUSKY — A trio of men who are suspected of crafting an alleged terror plot in Michigan and at Sandusky's Cedar Point amusement park last year have a jury trial scheduled for May. Federal court records in a case being heard in Michigan's U.S. District Court identified the suspects as Momed Ali, Majed Mahmoud and Ayob Nasser. The trio was indicted on one count each of conspiracy to provide material to support a foreign terrorist group and one count of conspiring to receive and transfer firearms that would be used to commit an act of terrorism. All three men entered not-guilty pleas on Nov. 17 and are tentatively scheduled to have a jury trial starting at 8:30 a.m. on May 4, federal court records state. Background While a federal criminal complaint does not mention Cedar Point by name, park officials previously stated that its staff assisted federal law enforcement with the investigation. A federal law enforcement official stated in the complaint that Nasser and another unidentified person appeared on security footage visiting the park on Sept. 18-19. On Sept. 18, the pair was in the park's parking lot around noon when park staff asked them to leave. The complaint also noted that Nasser ignored multiple turnarounds and continued along a road encircling the amusement park. The next day, Nasser and the unidentified person returned to the park around noon and bought single-admission tickets. A park worker told them to wait in their car or leave until the park opened. At some point that day, Ali reportedly arrived at the park in a different vehicle and was caught on surveillance footage before leaving. Authorities believe Nasser and the unidentified person left the park area around 5:40 p.m., before the park opened. Authorities reportedly found more evidence on a computer seized at Nasser and Ali's Michigan residence. "Someone used the computer to search 'is it crowded on halloweekend at (amusement park)?'" the agent wrote in the criminal complaint. Based on his experience, the agent believed the suspects were scouting the park as a potential attack site. In addition to allegedly scouting Cedar Point, the federal agent noted that Ali and Mahmoud were linked to an attack plot targeting LGBTQ+ clubs in suburban Detroit after purchasing firearms, ammunition and gear. According to federal court records, Ali and Nasser recently filed for release from the facility where they were being held, but were denied by federal Judge David R. Grand for several reasons, including the fact that the allegations include allegations of terrorism and because the charges carry a "lengthy period of incarceration if convicted." Court records state each man faces a maximum federal prison sentence of 35 years and fines of up to $500,000. It's not clear where all three are being held, but the U.S. Attorney's Office in Michigan told the newspaper that they all remained incarcerated. A request for their jail mugshots was denied due to a Department of Justice policy.