FBI officials were trying to gain access to those accounts Thursday, but Jordanian banks are notorious for keeping account information under wraps.

According to federal court documents, in March 2002, Omar used Abudan's 2001 Mercedes-Benz to take out a $40,000 loan from Utah First Credit Union, claiming the vehicle was his. At the time, Omar told the credit union employee that he needed the money for some home improvements. However, federal officials allege that Omar gave the money to his nephew, Ihab Ramadan, who is Abudan's stepson, and that Ramadan then wired $50,000 to a bank account in Amman, Jordan, called Amman General Trading LLC.

Of interest to the FBI and terrorism investigators is Omar's brother, Shawqi Omar, who is in military custody in Iraq.

A former Utahn, he repaired refrigerators while working to gain U.S. citizenship. Shawqi Omar was arrested in October 2004 in his Baghdad apartment, accused of working with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi by harboring foreign terrorists and plotting kidnappings. U.S. officials say al-Zarqawi is the leader of al-Qaida's terror campaign in Iraq that is blamed for hundreds of deaths, both American and Iraqi.

Family members contend Shawqi Omar was a businessman in Iraq trying to get reconstruction work. Gus Omar defended his brother, saying he was no terrorist.

"If they have any ties or any proof about it, they would have charged him by now," he said Thursday.

Since October, Shawqi Omar has been held in U.S. military custody on suspicion of terrorism, but he has not been charged with any crime.

Back in Utah, indictments and arrests were also leveled against Shawqi and Sharif's brother, Bassam Omar, 42, of San Diego, and nephew Ihab Ramadan, 27, of Chula Vista, Calif. Alaa "Alex" Ramadan, 29, a resident of Jordan, was arrested Wednesday at the Los Angeles International Airport.

Federal prosecutors say Sharif Omar's activities are part of a larger scheme of loan fraud involving other family members. A six-count indictment against Alaa Ramadan and Bassam Omar says a mortgage fraud scheme involving homes in Sandy and Bountiful netted the two men $121,399.

Another indictment against Alaa Ramadan and three non-family associates, including a loan officer and a licensed appraiser, alleges the group took part in another mortgage scheme involving a home in Salt Lake City's Avenues neighborhood that netted the group about $125,712. The indictment also charges the group with money-laundering and mail fraud.

In the final indictment, Ramadan and two other non-family associates are charged with conspiring in an auto loan scheme that netted them $40,000.

In court Thursday, Sharif Omar was handed a copy of the indictment against him. Federal prosecutors did not oppose a request to release Omar, saying he was not believed to be a flight risk or a danger to the community. However, FBI agents were quick to say they were not suggesting Sharif Omar or anybody else charged are terrorists.

"We're not saying that. There have been no allegations to that effect. We're aware of who they're related to and what he's involved with," Bretzing said, referring to Shawqi Omar. "But that has not been charged or alleged in any of the proceedings. We just have to investigate all aspects of that."

A tentative trial date has been set for June.

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E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com; bwinslow@desnews.com