Lexington Islamic leader pleads guilty to money laundering, conspiracy to kidnapping

January 27, 2020   

(Lexington Herald Leader) A Lexington Islamic leader who was accused last year in connection with an alleged murder-for-hire plot pleaded guilty Monday to some of the charges against him.

Mahmoud Shaker Shalash pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring with at least one other person to kidnap someone, according to court records. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering, according to court records.

Shalash, the former imam of the Islamic Center of Lexington, was also accused of being involved in a murder-for-hire conspiracy. That count was dismissed as part of the plea agreement, according to court records. He has not been associated with the Islamic Center since May 2019, according to the center.

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