Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
FBI Informant Encouraged To Have Sex In War On Terror
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Mar 21, 2012
Modified Mar 21, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Mar 21, 2012
Modified Mar 21, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Sometimes Uncle Sam needs you to have coitus for your country, even if it turns out to be an utterly salacious waste of time. FBI informant Craig Monteilh AKA "Farouk Aziz" wondered if he was crossing the line when a woman he was monitoring wanted to have sex with him. "They said, if it would enhance the intelligence, go ahead and have sex. So I did," Monteilh told the Guardian. Is that the Patriot Act in your pocket or are you gonna wiretap that ass?
For a year, the FBI got Monteilh to spy on a mosque in Orange County, California. He converted to Islam and became known for leaving his keys in the mosque—keys that contained a recording device to monitor conversations. But talking about martyrdom and attacking the U.S. freaked out his peers, and eventually Monteilh himself was reported to the FBI. The sting was over, but not before they paid him $11,000 a month for his work.
Now, Monteih has joined an ACLU lawsuit against the FBI for the department's pointless spying. "The way the FBI conducts their operations, It is all about entrapment … I know the game, I know the dynamics of it. It's such a joke, a real joke. There is no real hunt. It's fixed."
In light of a few recent failures, the federal government seems loath to get involved in terrorism cases that feature CIs that prod the targets into entrapment territory. Luckily for us all, the NYPD and the Manhattan DA's office are happy to pick them up.
Tagged
cis
fbi
islam
nypd
sex
terrorism
war on terror
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .