An Islamic relief agency once based in Missouri has admitted in federal court that it illegally funneled $1.4 million to Iraq.
A representative of the Islamic American Relief Agency pleaded guilty Wednesday in Jefferson City, Missouri, to conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The agency, once based in Columbia, also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of obstructing the administration of internal revenue laws.
IARA served as the U.S. office of the Sudan-based Islamic Relief Agency. Authorities say IARA took in between $1 million and $3 million in contributions annually from 1991 to 2003.
IARA was closed in October 2004 after being identified by the U.S. Treasury Department as a specially designated global terrorist organization.
