Adil Shahryar, Charlton Heston US Attorney General Set2

8/7/2019 Adil Shahryar, Charlton Heston US Attorney General Set2

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Memorandum

Subject Date

Correspondence from Charlton Heston August 17, 1982Concerning Criminal Conviction ofAdil Shahryar

To The Attorney General From John Roberts k

In a letter to you dated August 9, Mr. Heston appealedto you to look into the federal prosecution of Adil Shahryar,who is the son of an Indian government official. The officialis a friend of Mr. Heston's, and Adil himself has been a guestin the Heston home.

On August 30, 1981, Adil was arrested by state authoritiesin Miami for hotel arson. This arrest led federal authoritiesto another crime committed by Adil. Briefly, Adil contractedto ship video tapes from Florida to London. Adil obtained ashipping container, and a place for it on a vessel, but in lieuof videotapes filled the container with scrap paper and twoexplosive firebombs. The FBI, with a search warrant, discoveredthe phony shipment and bombs prior to their placement on boardthe ship. The only reason the container was still on the dockand not on board the ship was because the ship was latereaching port.

Adil was tried in federal court, before a jury, on fivecounts: (1) attempting to firebomb a ship; (2) false statementson various certificates in connection with the shipment;(3) mail fraud; (4) making of a firearm (the bombs); and(5) use of a firearm (the bombs) in the commission of a felony.The case was airtight: evidence linked Adil to the purchase ofthe bomb materials, and he had only an incredible storyattempting to pin the blame on two associates to present indefense. He was convicted and sentenced, after a sentencinghearing, to 35 years. The judge indicated he viewed theattempted firebombing of the ship as very serious. Adil hadwhat the prosecutor described as a "superb" defense attorneyduring the trial, though Adil fired him before the sentencinghearing. The original state arson charges are still pendingagainst Adil. The assistant U.S. attorney who tried thecase concluded that Adil was "dangerous and deserves everyday of the 35 years he got."

The case is very sensitive and has high visibility inIndia. Indian officials have already been to see the assistantU.S. attorney. I have drafted the attached reply to Mr. Hestonfor your signature.

Reproduced from the holdings of the:National Archives & Records AdministrationRecord Group: 60 Department of JusticeAccession # 60-89-372Bo x 30 of 190Folder: John G. Roberts, Jr. Misc.


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2859 COLDWATER CANYON DRIVE, BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA 90210

August 9, 1982

Dear Mr. Attorney General:Justice is a complex matter, and perfect justice

is perhaps beyond our reach. That admitted, I never-theless bring to your attention a case of which youmay already be aware, that I feel involves a miscarriageof the American tradition of fair and reasonabletreatment before the law. I do so partly because Iknow the young man in question, but also because myexperience in India this July convinced me that agrave mistake had been made which reflects unfavourablyagainst the U.S.

The subject is an Indian citizen, Adil Shahryar,whose father I've known well since 1960, when he wasIndian Ambassador to Spain. Adil himself has been aguest in our home, and we always thought of him as afine boy. His father is Mohammed Yunus, a highly re-spected member of both of Mrs. Ghandi's governments,and a key figure there since before Independence,when he was a close friend of Mahatma Ghandi. He iscurrently chairman of the Trade Fair Authority ofIndia. Adil's mother is a professor of Indian historyat the University of Dellhi. We knew the boy when hewas a student here at Berkeley.

Lydia and I have just returned from Delhi, wherewe were guests in Mr. Yunus's home and were shockedt^ e1 -irn -hat Adil has been imprisoned in Floridaunder a consecutive sentence of thirty five years fora complicated set of charges involving attempted butunconsummated arson and fraud. Mr. Yunus believeshis son is totally innocent, as does Adil's Americanlawyer. Of course I can't make any judgment on hisguilt or innocence. I do feel that the matter deservessome further attention, and that the sentence is, tosay the least, remarkably harsh. That Adil wasjailed for several months without arraignment, thenheld on bail of $1,250,000.00, and that his twoconfederates have gone scot-free, is mystifying. Mr.Yunus has sent me a summary of the matter which Iwill enclose with this letter.


CHARLTCIN HESTON 0


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I cannot judge the parameters of the case, but Ido know that Adil had two brain operations here inCalifornia, after a motorcycle accident. Once, aguest in our home, Adil came with his head still inbandages. Though his prognosis at that time was-notgood, he apparently recovered. Nevertheless, Adil'sAmerican lawyer, Richard Hammer (who no longer repre-sents him), insists that Adil was found guiltybecause he personally antagonized the judge (FederalCourt Judge J.W. Kehoe) with his arrogant and over-bearing manner. Hammer even found it necessary tohave psychiatric appraisals done. Adil was foundsane, but it's easy for me to believe that he mayhave undergone some drastic mental changes since Ilast saw him.

I know you may have received other appeals onthis matter, but I feel I must express my under-standing of the case, as well as my deep concern, andto urge that if any other solution can be found, suchas deportation, this might be considered.

Lydia and I happened to be in Delhi on the dayHinckley was declared innocent. An Indian officialremarked to us that we Americans had a strange country,where a man could shoot the President and get offscot-free, while another could launch a failed fraudand get thirty-five years. I had no answer for him.

I'm sorry to add this to your problems. Still,I'm heartened by the insight and calm moderationyou've brought to the heavy responsibilities you'veundertaken. Perhaps you can ask one of your staff tobring these qualities to bear on this case.

Lydia and I both applaud you. Our best to Jeanas well; we hope to see you soon.

As ever,



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Adi l Shahryar was arrested at Miami on 30th August,on a charge that he had at tempted to set fire to the SheratcBeach Hotel there. In reality, it was he who informed themanagement about the fire and it was on the basis of thisinformation that a t ragedy was aver ted. The managementwas naturally appreciative of his timely warning andshifted him to another room.

A day earlier to his arrest, Adi l had a tiff withtw o men - Bill Hill and Dick Lawsont who were entrusted witlthe task of procuring and shipping a consignment ofProgrammed Video Cassettes to London. But since the goodswere not ready for shipment and the valadity of theLetter of Credit was about to expire, they informed Adilabout a plan to cover up the delay and save cancellationof the Letter of Credit. Adi l didn't agree, as he was anxicto get the stuff delivered in London and receive hisnormal commission. This greatly incensed the two, as theyfelt that according to their plan the shippers won'taccept a damaged container and thus the valadity of theLetter of Credit would be automatically extended. Thisarson case is still pending with the State of Florida.

Wnile in detention, Federa l charges were levelledagainst Adi l that (a) he had filled the container withscrap paper instead of video cassettes and (b) placed anexplos ive in it with the intent of endangering a ship.This detection took place when he was in jail. He wasalso asked to furnish a bail of $ 1.25 million.

The facts of the case are that Adi l had a genuineTransferable Letter of Credit for t-he supply of videocassetteso The cons ignment was neither insured nor bookedin a ship So the question of defrauding anyone orendangering a ship doesn't arise. nTe tw o abscondingpersons , who got Adi l arrested in the first place on anarson charge, later im plicated him in other cases , andare still at large. Thei r arrest warrants were issuedin April '82o

The Federa l cases were taken up after several monthcThis was contrary to the Speedy Trial Act, which providestrial to begin within seventy days from the date ofinformation/arrest 0 Being under detention and with sucha huge amount of bail to be furnished, Adi l was unable todefend his interests during the initial months. He wassubsequently convicted by Federa l Judge Jarmes Kehoe onMay 17, 1982 in five .cases to consecut ive te rms totalling35 years.

Reproduced from the holdings of the:National Archives & Records AdministrationRecord Group: 60 Department of JusticeAccession # 60-89-372Box 30 of 190Folder: John G. Roberts, Jr. Misc.


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2S59 COLDWATER CANYON DRIVEBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA 90210

Mr. William French SmithThe Attorney GeneralWashington, DC

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Reproduced from the holdings of the:Natieonl Archives & Records AdministrationRecord Group: 60 Department of JusticeAccession # 6 0 -89-372Bo x 30 of 190Folder: John G. Roberts, Jr. Misc.

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Adil Shahryar, Charlton Heston US Attorney General Set2