On October 14, 2008 a federal court sentenced Seyed Mousavi — a respected local community leader —  before a packed courtroom to 33 months in prison for filing false tax returns, omitting group membership on naturalization forms, and violating the U.S. economic embargo against Iran.  Though the government asked for a 9 year sentence, the Court was compelled by the myriad of evidence in Mousavi's favor and ultimately sentenced him to less than one-third of the government's request.  From community members to concerned law students, there has been an outpouring of support for Mousavi in what has become an extremely politicized trial.

On June 29, 2006, the FBI raided Mousavi's home, business and place of worship at gunpoint in the early morning hours, handcuffing family members and carting off boxes of documents and computers.  More than a year later, Mousavi was arrested in his mosque despite assurance from the government that he would be allowed to turn himself in if they decided to charge him.  On April 24, 2008, Mousavi — father of two current UCLA students — was convicted of filing false tax returns, omitting group membership on naturalization forms, and violating the U.S. economic embargo against Iran.  His lawyer failed to present evidence in his defense.    

Though not charged with or convicted of acts of terrorism, the government attempted to paint Mousavi with the broad brush of "terrorist." The prosecution invoked unsubstantiated assertions, xenophobia and "secret evidence" of terrorism early-on in the case.  As a result, Mousavi sat in jail without bail for over one year on these non-violent charges.  At a hearing on the week before, which was attended by 140 supporters, a new defense team presented substantial evidence of Mousavi's innocence but was denied a motion for a new trial.