NEW YORK, July 6 (UPI) -- A New York imam who pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents during an investigation left the United States as part of plea deal, federal officials said.
Federal agents and the imam's attorney confirmed Ahmad Afzali and his wife left Monday afternoon for Saudi Arabia, CNN reported.
After he pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents during their investigation of Najibullah Zazi's alleged subway bombing plan in New York, Afzali had 90 days to leave the United States and was required to wear an ankle monitor until his departure, the imam's attorney, Ron Kuby, said.
"Imam Afzali did his best to assist authorities when they asked for his help," Kuby said. "For his part, he leaves the United States with great sadness and no bitterness," Kuby said. "The United States is the only home that he knows; this country remains home to his parents, his children and his brothers."
Law enforcement officials allege Zazi and two other suspects planned to attack the New York subway system when they were arrested in September 2009, CNN said. Afzali was originally charged in the Zazi case.
He pleaded guilty to a charge of lying about whether he alerted Zazi the FBI had been asking about asking Zazi's activities. Zazi eventually pleaded guilty to conspiring to detonate explosives in the United States.
The two other suspects, Adis Medunjanin and Zarein Ahmedzay, pleaded not guilty in February to new charges of conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in the United States and several other counts. The two previously faced lesser charges.
