PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The co-founder of an Islamic charity in Ashland has been released to await trial on federal tax and conspiracy charges.

Pirouz Sedaghaty, known as Pete Seda, had been held at the Lane County Jail in Eugene while federal prosecutors argued against his release.

The 49-year-old Sedaghaty left the country in 2003, more than a year before a federal grand jury indicted him and the Oregon chapter of the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation on charges of smuggling $150,000 to Muslim fighters in Chechnya.

The native of Iran has pleaded not guilty and said he returned in August to clear his name.

Sedaghaty and his attorney, Larry Matasar, declined comment on the release. But Matasar had continually assured U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan that Sedaghaty would meet all conditions imposed by the court.

The release order signed Friday by Hogan listed typical conditions, such as prohibiting Sedaghaty from carrying a firearm. But it requires Sedaghaty to get a job and to allow federal officials to inspect his computer at any time.

He had been approved to live at a friend's Ashland home by U.S. Pretrial Services, the arm of the federal court that handles detention and release of federal defendants.

But the friend, Paul Copeland, said Friday that Sedaghaty would be staying with other friends in Ashland temporarily until more permanent arrangements can be made pending his trial in April.

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