A Federal court jury in Fort Worth has convicted Yassein Said, 59, of all charges in a scheme to hide his brother from detectives investigating the 2008 honor killings of two teenagers.
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Said now faces sentencing in June in a case that could lock him up for 30-years.
On Jan. 1, 2008, Yaser Said, 64 of Irving, is awaiting a capital murder trial for shooting daughters Amina and Sarah. Their bodies were found in the back of a taxi that was parked at a Las Colinas hotel. Family members were split, with some claiming they knew nothing of Yaser’s whereabouts and others claiming the murders were honor killings because the girls had disgraced the family.
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For 12 years, Yaser Said was on the run, seemingly one step ahead of police. Investigators say Yassein and Yaser’s son, Islam, helped him hide.
Police came close when a maintenance worker at a Bedford apartment complex spotted Yaser, Aug. 14, 2017. By the time police arrived, Said had fled.
He was later tracked to a home in Justin, where the FBI watched Yassein deliver groceries, then take trash bags to a shopping center 20 miles away.
“Yassein Said protected his brother and accused murderer, Yaser Said, by providing aid and comfort to him while he was a fugitive. By taking the law into his own hands, Yassein Said delayed justice for the victims, Amina and Sarah, and their family,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno in a news release.
Islam Said pleaded guilty before the trial.
Observers say the federal court convictions could bolster the capital murder case that Dallas County prosecutors will present. Indeed one or both could try to cut deals to get their potential 30-year prison terms reduced.
“It’s quite common for the prosecutors to want to squeeze those who have been convicted, or pled, in order to try to reduce their sentence by cooperating against others.” said Matthew Orwig, a former U.S. Attorney.
Sentencing for Yassein Said and Islam Said is tentatively scheduled for June 4th before U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor.
Yaser Said’s trial in State court is awaiting a trial date.