EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge has freed an Oregon man whose conviction in September on money smuggling charges has been thrown into question.
Judge Michael Hogan ruled Wednesday that Pete Seda (SAY-duh) could be released, wearing a GPS device constantly, while his lawyers argue the conviction should be thrown out or that he get a new trial.
Seda was convicted of tax fraud and conspiracy in what the government said was a plot to send about $150,000 through an Islamic charity he managed in Ashland to Saudi Arabia.
Prosecutors said the money was intended to aid Muslims fighting the Russians in Chechnya.
But after the trial, federal prosecutors acknowledged they didn’t tell defense lawyers about payments made to the husband of a witness and about discussions of paying the witness.
