La Palma Woman Imprisoned for Sponsoring Terrorism

A 40-year-old La Palma woman was sentenced today to five years in federal prison for sending money to Pakistan to help fund attacks against the U.S. military.

Oytun Ayse Mihalik, a Turkish citizen with permanent resident status in the U.S., pleaded guilty Aug. 10 to a count of providing material support to terrorists, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Federal prosecutors were seeking 12 years in prison for Mihalik while her attorneys asked the judge for two years, the defendant's attorney Errol Stambler said. The maximum punishment was 15 years in prison.

Mihalik used the alias of "Cindy Palmer" when she sent a total of $2,050 in three wire transfers to someone in Pakistan at the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011, according to federal prosecutors.

Mihalik was arrested in August of 2011 as she was about to board a flight to Turkey with a one-way ticket.

In a letter to U.S. District Judge Staton Tucker, Mihalik apologized and blamed her behavior on marital problems and concern for her cancer-stricken mother.

"I know I did wrong," Mihalik said in the letter to the judge who punished her. "Everything that I worked for -- 16 years of crime-free honest living, all of my accomplishments and my dreams are swept away as a result of my actions during a very emotionally disturbed period. I'm facing very harsh consequences such as losing my residency, my three pharmacy state licenses that I worked very hard to get, the opportunity to raise my children in this country and contributing to the community through my hard work as a pharmacist at CVS."

Mihalik said she was also concerned for her brother, who suddenly went to Pakistan and was out of touch.

Mihalik went on to say in her letter to the judge, "I love the United States of America and consider it my home country since this country allowed me to achieve all of my career and personal goals, widened my perspective in life to appreciate freedom, equality, liberty... I realize my American dram has been ruined."

U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. said international terrorists rely on the cash sent to them from people like Mihalik.

"The defendant in this case knowingly and deliberately made wire transfers to fund terrorist operations overseas, where contributions like these could have a significant and devastating impact on American interests," Birotte said.

Federal prosecutors said in court papers that Mihalik's "support for terrorism was knowing and intentional -- not the product of undue influence or misguided good intentions and not aberrant conduct... In fact, as (Mihalik) herself told the FBI shortly after her arrest, she believed (the recipient of the money in Pakistan) was a member of the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and she knew he was using the money for mujahadin operations against American military forces in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region."

Mihalik agreed in her plea bargain that the U.S. can revoke her immigration status and deport her to Turkey when she finishes her prison sentence, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

"While the sum of money involved in this case may not seem substantial, there's no doubt the funds this defendant sent overseas would have covered the cost of an attack on U.S. soldiers," said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for Homeland Security in Los Angeles.

Stambler said Mihalik made her mistakes over a three-week period.

The defense attorney said federal prosecutors were being "unrealistic" in seeking a stricter punishment. Stambler also disputed that Mihalik had any contact with Al Qaeda and noted the Taliban is not listed as a terrorist organization.

Mihalik has about 38 months more to do behind bars before she returns to Turkey.

 - City News Service