Metro

‘Terror cash’ defendant wants separate money-transfer trials

A Long Island man charged with running an illegal money-transfer business wants separate trials regarding two of his alleged customers — because one is failed Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad.

In court papers filed today, Mohammad Younis says it would be “completely impossible” for him to get a fair trial regarding his second, unidentified client once jurors learned he “made a separate transaction to a convicted terrorist.”

“Notions of fair play and justice require that the two alleged overt acts against Mr. Younis be severed because of the prejudicial effect that joinder would create,” defense lawyer Phil Solages wrote.

The Manhattan federal court filing also notes that while both transactions allegedly took place on the same day, “each act allegedly occurred at a different time and a different location,” and there’s no evidence that Shahzad and “customer-1” knew each other.

According to the feds, Younis blurted out, “I paid the money but I am not guilty for the bomb,” when he was busted on charges of giving Shahzad $7,000 on behalf of a co-conspirator in Pakistan.

A spokeswoman for the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment.