Sunday, September 16, 2012

Suspected anti-Islam filmmaker questioned by Feds

By Samantha Tata, NBCLosAngeles.com

The man purported to be the filmmaker behind an inflammatory anti-Islam video being blamed for sparking violent unrest in the Middle East and beyond was escorted by deputies from his Cerritos, Calif.,?home shortly after midnight Saturday morning, NBCLosAngles.com reported.

Media and law enforcement had been staking out the home at the end of a cul de sac in the Southern California city for about 48 hours when the man emerged wearing a coat, hat, scarf and glasses.

According to property records, the home is owned by Nakoula Besseley Nakoula.


Los Angeles County Sheriff?s Department spokesman Steve Whitmore confirmed to NBCLA Friday night that Nakoula was taken in to the Cerrito?s sheriff?s station for interviewing by federal probation officers.

'Entirely voluntary'
Whitmore said they were assisting the federal officers who want to find out whether he has violated any federal probation.

Whitmore added that Nakoula agreed to the interview prior to the deputies arriving at his home and that the move was "entirely voluntary."

At least seven reported killed in regional protests over anti-Islamic video

Deputies in two marked cars and one unmarked vehicle pulled up to the home around midnight, according to witnesses.

Angry protests have been held in countries such as Libya, Tunisia, Egypt, Sudan and Lebanon over the 15-minute video posted on the Internet called "The Innocence of Muslims.?

Clashes near the US embassy continued in Cairo while in Sudan, British and German embassies were both targeted. The violence continued for a second day in Yemen, with protesters burning American flags. NBC's Richard Engel reports.

On Wednesday, an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya fatally wounded 14 people, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, two former Navy SEALS who were providing security for Stevens, and information management officer Sean Smith.

U.S. officials are also probing the possibility that Wednesday?s attack was planned by militants and timed to coincide with the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Americans killed in US consulate attack honored at Andrews

The film's mystery producer has been said to go by the pseudonym Sam Bacile.

Nakoula reportedly requested deputies step up patrols around his home Wednesday after media descended on the area. At the time, Whitmore told reporters there had been no disturbance or crime.

Two US service members killed at Afghan camp where Prince Harry is based

Two attorneys were?escorted into the home?earlier Friday. They were the first people to enter the home in days

A federal grand jury indictment in February 2009 charged Nakoula in an alleged bank fraud conspiracy. The indictment accused him and others of fraudulently obtaining the identities and Social Security numbers of bank customers at Wells Fargo and withdrawing $860 from bank branches in Cerritos, Artesia and Norwalk.

Los Angeles County District Attorney spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons confirmed that Nakoula served a year in jail after pleading guilty to possession of meth with the intent to manufacture in 1997.

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/15/13876716-suspected-anti-islam-filmmaker-questioned-by-feds?lite

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