1st witness in Yassine trial, FBI agent

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The first of trials to come began on Monday with the selection of a 12-member jury in the trial of the Yassine family, whose Downtown Austin businesses were the focus of an FBI raid in March. It took less than three hours to seat the panel.

The trial opened just after 3 p.m. with the first witness, an FBI agent. An informant who helped the FBI obtain video and audio recordings from inside Yassine Enterprises was a member of the Yassine family, according to Monday's testimony.

Mohammad "Mo" Yassine was approached by the FBI n 2007 while living in Colorado. Since that time be has been paid thousands of dollars to help the FBI investigate and bring money-laundering charges against his three cousins.

During opening statements, the government said they wired Mo Yassine and recorded hours of conversations he had with the Yassine brothers.

Video surveillance played for the jury also showed Mo Yassine taking part in controlled-drug deals.

The government alleges the drug money was laundered using the nine Yassine Enterprise bars raided in March.

The drug transactions alleged by the government include:

• Mo Yassine was written a $6,000 check from Treasure Island after he brought in $6,500 in cash on Sept. 19, 2008.
• He was given an $8,000 check from Spill Nightclub after bringing in $8,000 in cash on Oct. 10, 2008.
• An FBI video recording was shown, recorded in April 2009 in which Mo Yassine is written three checks from Pure, Warehouse Entertainment, and Kiss & Fly for $90,000 after bringing $100,000 in a pink gift bag.

Ten members of the family were arrested and charged, which resulted in a number of popular Sixth Street bars being closed, leaving unsuspecting workers out of jobs.

Those being tried starting Monday are brothers Hussein Ali "Mike" Yassine, Mohammad Ali "Steve" Yassine and Hadi Ali Yassine.

Charges against them include:

Hussein Ali Yassine, also known as "Mike"

• conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
• three counts of money laundering

Mohammed Ali Yassine, also known as "Steve," "Steve Austin" and "Hammudih"

• money laundering
• two counts of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine
• two counts of distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine
• transferring a firearm knowing it is to be used in a drug trafficking crime

Hadi Ali Yassine

• conspiracy to launder monetary instruments
• two counts of money laundering

Linguists are expected to be part of the court proceedings as the recordings take place in French, Arabic and English.

Attorneys for the Yassine brothers quickly attacked Mo Yassine's character by pointing out a history of drug use and the $340,000 he had been paid by the government to take part in the investigation.

One attorney called Mo Yassine an "accomplished and world-class liar."

Hadi Yassine's attorney told the jury the recordings would prove his client was not involved in money laundering.

Judge Sam Sparks told jurors the trial would last until the middle of next week.

Plenty of the recordings obtained by Mo Yassine are expected to be heard as a part of evidence.