Muslim Love for Arson
Everett man who
faked hate crime convicted of arson
The Associated
Press
February 27,
2007
SEATTLE A Pakistani immigrant accused of burning down his grocery store in Everett and trying to make it look like a hate crime has been convicted of arson.
40-year-old Mizra Akram could face to five years in prison for the crime. Akram was convicted in U.S. District Court in Seattle yesterday.
Akram owned Continental Spices, a Pakistani and Middle Eastern grocery. Prosecutors say he recruited an acquaintance, Naveed Khan, to help set the July 2004 fire after the store's finances worsened.
The government alleged that the two tried to remove attention from themselves by spray-painting anti-Muslim graffiti around the store. Khan previously pleaded guilty to arson and testified against Akram.
During the investigation, police also discovered that Akram had used Continental Spices to commit more than $30,000 of food stamp fraud. Akram was already sentenced to 18 months after being convicted on that charge last summer.
Federal officials say Akram is a legal U.S. resident but could be deported following his prison term.