Selma has war on terror ‘wake-up call’
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, May 12, 2004
ByAlanRiquelmy/Times-Journalwriter
A Turkish citizen was returned to the Dallas County Jail under $10,000 bond after a Wednesday bond hearing.
Dallas County District Court Judge Nathaniel Walker gave Mustafa Turan Buyukaydin, 44, the bond after hearing from Assistant District Attorney Joseph Fitzpatrick, defense attorney Jeffrey Robinson and state trooper Norbert Neely.
Buyukaydin is charged with possession of a forged instrument. The charge stems from his alleged attempt to use a fake Social Security card to obtain an Alabama driver’s license on April 29.
“The hearing today should be a wake up call,” Fitzpatrick said. “At the end of the day we’ll probably realize that we’re playing a bigger role in the War on Terror than we believe.”
According to Fitzpatrick, Neely told Walker about the April 29 incident as well as Buyukaydin’s criminal history, which includes multiple arrests in other states on sex-related offenses.
“Basically, the guy came in and presented a Social Security card with the intent to obtain a driver’s license,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s like if someone was printing phony money on their computer. It was printed on paper not issued through the Social Security Department.”
Fitzpatrick said that Robinson asked questions about the card.
Fitzpatrick responded to those questions by stating that the name and number on the card linked Buyukaydin to it. Due to Buyukaydin’s citizenship and lack of significant contacts with Selma, Fizpatrick requested a substantial bond.
Fitzpatrick noted that an ongoing investigation revealed that Buyukaydin has used multiple names in the past to gain various documents. He has also been living in America illegally since 1990, Fitzpatrick added.
“There’s an ongoing federal investigation,” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s safe to say that the Immigration and Naturalization Service has a hold on him.”
According to Fitzpatrick, if Buyukaydin made bond, the INS would be contacted. Buyukaydin could remain in the Dallas County Jail or be removed to a different location.
The Dallas County Jail declined to reveal if Buyukaydin remained in jail or had made bond.
Court documents state that Buyukaydin attempted to obtain an Alabama driver’s license at 10:15 a.m. April 29. An employee states that after examining Buyukaydin’s Social Security card under a black light, she contacted Neely, who also examined the card.
Law enforcement authorities arrested Buyukaydin shortly afterward.
Buyukaydin’s preliminary hearing is his next scheduled court appearance. Walker will determine if enough probable cause exists to bind Buyukaydin’s case over to the grand jury at that time.