County man accused of preparing for 'war'
Abuelawi allegedly purchased automatic weapons, mine
Mousa M. Abuelawi, 22, of 20 Franjoe Court, was arrested and charged Dec. 29 with three counts of possessing or distributing machine guns and one count of conspiring to violate federal firearms statutes.
In an affidavit, an FBI investigator outlined several accounts where the suspect allegedly engaged in buying or delivering machine guns. The transactions took place at a Gas Mart convenience store, off West Florissant Avenue in St. Louis, where he worked and at a nearby Phillips 66 gas station."Mousa Abuelawi stated that he would buy anything, meaning weapons," the investigator said in the affidavit.
Abuelawi allegedly bought an inoperable Colt M-16 rifle and an inert Claymore mine during a Nov. 21 transaction.
Later that evening, surveillance units observed Abuelawi taking the M-16 and Claymore mine from the Gas Mart to a Phillips 66 gas station off West Florissant Avenue in St. Louis, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, Abuelawi's co-worker, Thaer Abde S. Sumad, told his friend to buy as many explosives as possible because "we're going to war."
St. Louis police officers went to the Gas Mart on Nov. 23, just two days later, and spoke with Sumad about the firearms.
"Sumad gave consent to search the store and denied any knowledge of the firearms," the agent said in the affidavit.
But police found the M-16 in a black case and retrieved the weapon, according to the affidavit
During another incident, a "cooperating witness" allegedly showed Abuelawi photos of hand grenades and negotiated purchasing the products for $400 each.
The suspect told the cooperating witness that he wanted to take four grenades to show "his people." But the cooperating witness told him he didn't have enough to give, according to the affidavit
Abuelawi told the cooperating witness during another transaction on Dec. 5 that he knew he was being watched by law enforcement.
"If me and my people get caught with that expletive (grenades) it's all over," he said, according to the affidavit.
On Dec. 27, the cooperating witness met again with Abuelawi at the Phillips 66 gas station, where Abuelawi allegedly bought two machine guns - an M-16 and an H&K MP5 9MM.
According to documents, Abuelawi, who is originally from Jordan, lives with two brothers, two sisters-in-law and three nieces at the residence on Franjoe Court in a subdivision off Kisker Road, near Highway 94 South.
Keith Freeman, who also lives on Franjoe Court, said he spoke on a few occasions with a Jordanian family that lives at the address, but never noticed any suspicious activity.
"It makes me nervous," Freeman said.
On Friday afternoon a woman who answered the door at 20 Franjoe Court said she worked with Abuelawi but that he did not reside there.
Abuelawi's defense attorney, Scott Rosenblum, said his client will plead not guilty.
"I assure you he is not going to war with anyone," Rosenblum said.
Abuelawi is free on $50,000 property bond posted by the property owners - Issa, Sonia and Ahmad Abuelawi - who live at 20 Franjoe Court.
Rachel Kaatmann can be contacted at rkaatmann@yourjournal.com
