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ISU alum proclaims innocence. So let's take the Larry Craig approach
The authorities have been investigating this for nine years. That is usually not a good sign for a defendant. Long investigations like that are done for one reason - to build a rock solid case with lots of criminal counts, evidence, witnesses, etc., for prosecutors to work with. Nonetheless, on the JHub, I was asked to suspend judgement about Larry Craig -- not to convict him in the media before all of the facts were out.
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Here is one example:
Posted by mbogo on Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at 09:56 AM
" ... It looks like There are some folks that have decided that Senator Larry Craig should resign because of a conviction of disorderly conduct in a Minnesota airport men's room. We seem too willing to rush to judgment based on what we read in the paper. Senator Craig issued a statement saying that at the time of the incident, he complained to the police that they were misinterpreting his statements and that in hindsight he should have retained an attorney. That was also printed in the newspaper, but some people don't want to hear that, they just feel he ought to resign. So, if he was innocent, of any wrong doing, why did he plead guilty to the charge? That is a good question, and I hope he will address that question as soon as possible. In the mean time I would like to know more about the incident than I currently know. Senator Craig has done some good things for Idaho during his time in office and we owe it to ourselves to make sure we have all the facts before we ask him to resign. He should start talking to us soon though."
Hopefully, those voices will speak up the same way for the accused Akbar Abdul-Ahad.
-- Michael
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From the Idaho State Journal:
ISU alum proclaims innocence
POCATELLO - As he does every June, Akbar Abdul-Ahad watched the first game of the NBA Finals on Thursday. But this year, he had a hard time enjoying it.
Something about being in prison made the game suddenly seem not so important. ''This is hell,'' Abdul-Ahad said by phone, talking publicly for the first time since being sent to Minnesota's Sherburne County jail on May 14. ''Whoever said there was something cool about going to jail was lying. There's nothing cool about this at all.'' Abdul-Ahad, a former Idaho State point guard who started every game and averaged more than 13 points and four rebounds per night as a senior, has been stuck in jail for more than three weeks as part of an indictment that was handed down against 23 people following a nine-year investigation into a drug trafficking operation and conspiracy to possess firearms. Ask Abdul-Ahad to explain any of that, and he doesn't know what to say. Mainly because he's still not exactly sure why he's in prison. ''This is basically just one big misunderstanding,'' he said. ''That's what everyone is going to find out. The investigation has been going on since 1999, and I was only 16 back then, a sophomore in high school.'' Since that time, Abdul-Ahad has taken immense pride in staying away from drugs and becoming a Division I basketball player. As a child, he grew up in a house where his mother was addicted to crack cocaine and his uncle died using it. He wanted to stay away from that environment so badly that he practically dedicated his life to it, going so far as to avoid alcohol and resist going out on weekends in college. Upon graduating from Idaho State, he released a self-made documentary about his basketball career that centered around those experiences. After working that hard to live a clean life, ending up in jail is the last thing he expected. ''I'm in here with bank robbers, drug dealers and killers,'' he said. ''There's all these people who are nothing like me. No one has a college degree. No one played college basketball. I just try to keep to myself and focus on getting out of here.'' Abdul-Ahad said he expects to hear a decision on whether or not he can be released on bail soon. With six lock downs and head counts a day, a daily 5:30 a.m. wakeup call and nothing but a few phone calls and TV time at night to look forward to, he hopes he can be set free. Both he, and those close to him, expect that to happen. His good friend and former Idaho State basketball manager Lester Stewart agreed, saying that Abdul-Ahad was in jail ''just by association. It's nothing he did.'' His mother, Chiffon Williams, who was also listed in the indictment for allegedly running a stash house in the 2600 block of Cedar Avenue in Minneapolis, told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Wednesday that Abdul-Ahad was merely ''guilty of knowing people.'' Abdul-Ahad also insists he did nothing wrong. He hopes that his name will soon be cleared. ''I'm not saying I'm perfect, but I'm not a drug dealer,'' he said. ''That's not my cup of tea. I hate drugs.'' **********
Below are some responses from Kellis Robinett's blog:
June 4th, 2008 at 6:36 pm That is SAD! We were led to believe that Triple “A” had overcome some of those temptations growing up! Now, we hear this news which is just terribly disturbing. June 6th, 2008 at 12:25 pm Please do not allow a “charge” against this young man and not a “conviction” taint your view of his character. People are indicted EVERYDAY on merely suspicion. He is an awesome man with a very bright future. He will pull through this like he has everything else in his life. Don’t let a news story make you forget who you’ve grown to love and admire. Everything you read is not always the truth. Please continue to support him , and lets not think the worst until the worst is PROVEN. God Bless, June 6th, 2008 at 2:12 pm Members of the Idaho State Faculty and students: I am a former college professor at Bethel University in Arden Hills, MN, and the current president of East Phillips neighborhood, a rough neighborhood where Chiffon, Triple A’s mother, lives. I have followed the career of her son and know Chiffon well. She has worked very hard and managed to keep most of her kids out of trouble. Most are church people as is she. She works hard for the homeless and people others give up on and is a tireless worker for the poor. I often pop over to her house unannounced and stay a longtime. I have never witnessed any dealing or drug activity there. Does she know people who do that? Yes? Was she once involved? Yes. But she broke that habit longago and despises drug use and the terrible impact it has had on some family members and others she loves. She has helped our crime prevention group identify and shut down crack houses. In fact I own a building where Chiffon found out a large group were smoking crack (at the invitation of my caretaker, who I later fired) She burst in on them and drove them all out of there, then came and told me right away. Don’t worry. I verified this story. She has tirelessly tried to get young women out of prostitution and find homes for those who have none. This situation is a disaster for her family of ten children, which she has worked so hard to protect and guide. I think if the police pile together many misdemeanors of friends and relatives and family members, this could look very serious, but I and many others do not believe she is the ‘cartel mistress’ that she has been made out to be. We do not believe her house is a stash house and the site of money laundering. The fact is she has never had any money indicative of such a thing. I have helped her figure out how to pay all her bills sometimes myself. Chiffon Williams is an attractive big brassy black woman on the order of Queen Latifa, who can vociferously defend the down and out, people others wish would just go away. She is someone who would invite the kind of scrutiny she has received and some of her family members have issues. But the facts are not in, nor are they in for ‘Triple A’. My hope is that it will have a happy ending. Many of us want you to know that we do not believe either Chiffon or Akbar are guilty of serious crime, though others might be. If you care about them, keep them in your prayers. They are wonderful Christian people. More later.
And there are additional thoughts, some from people who know "AAA" well, at: http://www.pocatelloshops.c... 3 comments from 3 users
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posted by
mbogo
on Jun 7, 2008 at 01:29 PM
Okay Michael, you got it. Lets wait and let the investigation take it's course and with hold judgment until Akbar Abdul-Ahad is either convicted or exonerated. Maybe I should have come forth and said that on my own, But I can repent real fast and do the right thing when prompted to do so. Thanks for reminding me.
posted by
MichaelStrickland
on Jun 7, 2008 at 01:31 PM
posted by
HuntRyan
on Jun 8, 2008 at 11:53 AM
As I said in another post, this is a case where emotions tempt us to fall on one side or the other of the argument immediately, proclaiming "Triple A" guilty or innocent based simply on the few facts that we have. On one hand, his demeanor and history weigh heavily in favor of his innocence, causing all who know him to proclaim how shocked they are that he's even being indicted of such. Unless he is an Academy Award-caliber actor, it's hard to see how he could have been involved in such (and especially starting at such an early age) without giving at least some indications. On the other hand, as Mr. Strickland said, a nine year investigation usually does not produce off-handed accusations. There must be some evidence that at least associates "Triple A" with these people, otherwise the indictment would not have been issued. That being said, indictments for simple and often innocent association are indeed handed down everyday, and later withdrew after further questioning and investigation by officials. Personally, I think that this finally scenario is the most likely in this case, and Akbar is being named simply for his close associations with some of the individuals that are actually involved. He simply does not exhibit a single characteristic that would be necessary to be involved in the activities listed in the indictment. As stated before, however, only time will tell what actual evidence they have against "Triple A", and only then can an educated assessment be made. Until then, I would still encourage everyone to remember that Akbar IS innocent until proven guilty, and we should proceed with such a mindset.
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