Pakistani Citizen Is Charged in North Carolina
Federal officials charged a Pakistani citizen with immigration violations and said Tuesday the man was detained last month after being spotted videotaping downtown skyscrapers.
Kamran Akhtar was arrested July 20 after being taken in for questioning by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Anthony Maglione. Charges against him were contained in indictments unsealed Tuesday.
Akhtar, 36, is charged with violating federal immigration and naturalization laws and making a false statement, according to U.S. Atty. Gretchen Shappert.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Carl Horn ordered Akhtar held in federal custody at a brief hearing Tuesday in federal court. He had been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Akhtar was being held at Mecklenburg County Jail.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Darrell Stephens, Akhtar told Maglione at the time of his arrest that he was making videotapes for family members.
Mayor Pat McCrory urged Charlotte residents and workers in the city’s financial district, which is home to two of the nation’s top five banks, not to alter their routine.
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