Charity head found guilty

CHICAGO -- The head of an Islamic charity linked by federal prosecutors to Osama bin Laden pleaded guilty Monday to racketeering charges but did not admit any connection to the terrorist mastermind.\nEnaam Arnaout, 41, a Syrian-born U.S. citizen, acknowledged that he had sent some of the money raised through his Benevolence International Foundation to purchase boots and uniforms for rebels in Chechnya, who are fighting the Russian army.\nHe also acknowledged sending support for the purchase of boots, tents, uniforms and an ambulance for soldiers in Bosnia.\nArnaout pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy as U.S. District Judge Suzanne B. Conlon was preparing to select a jury for his trial on charges that included giving support for bin Laden's network. Prosecutors dropped all but one count of the seven count indictment.\nThe government dropped a charge that accused him of using his Palos Hills-based foundation to help bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorism network.\nUnder federal law, Arnaout could be sentenced to 20 years in prison on the racketeering conspiracy charge. Federal prosecutors said if he cooperates in future investigations the sentence could be considerably lower.\nArnaout was not accused of having anything to do with Sept. 11 or other specific acts of terrorism.\nArnaout, who has been in custody since his arrest in April, had denied he ever raised money for terrorists. He said everything the foundation did was aimed at providing humanitarian aid to the needy in Muslim countries.