Woman who told FBI her husband was terrorist charged with making false statements

HOUSTON - A woman who contacted law enforcement officers and told them that her husband was a terrorist has been indicted on charges of making false statements to the FBI. <br> <br> During a Dec. 19 hearing, an FBI agent said Shahlah Jaffer Hussain, 39, made up the story about her husband, Fouad Esshassah. The agent said Hussain was furious with her husband because he left town for an extended period without telling her where he was going. <br> <br> Hussain was indicted on Jan. 2 for making the accusation. <br> <br> Officials said Hussain contacted the FBI four days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks claiming her husband received an e-mail three days before the attacks that included images of a skull, an airplane and the World Trade Center. <br> <br> She told the FBI that her husband often entertained terrorists wanted by the government in their Houston apartment. <br> <br> Hussain also claimed her husband had a Hamas symbol tattooed on his left arm. Hamas is the Islamic militant group that has claimed responsibility for suicide bombings and other attacks against Israel. <br> <br> Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Hileman said the FBI found no connection between Esshassah and terrorists. Checks of the man&#39;s computer and his left arm also did not support his wife&#39;s accusations, Hileman said. <br> <br> If convicted, Hussain faces up to five years in a federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. <br> <br> <br> Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved