“We anticipate that the US Attorney will obtain an grand jury indictment before [a preliminary hearing], although none has been received yet,” Perlmutter, who represents Saidakhmetov, said on Monday.
If the US Attorney is unable to obtain an indictment, the defense team will be prepared to move forward with a hearing, but there may be motion practice beforehand, Perlmutter added.
The defense attorney stated earlier that Saidakhmetov will plead not guilty if indicted.
Nellin McIntosh, spokesperson for Assistant US Attorney Douglas Pravda who is prosecuting the case, told Sputnik that the preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 11.
US authorities charged in February Saidakhmetov and Juraboev, but also Abror Habibov, with conspiring to support the ISIL terrorist group that has seized and controls territories in Iraq and Syria.
Saidakhmetov is a citizen of Kazakhstan, while Juraboev and Habibov are citizens of Uzbekistan.
Saidakhmetov was arrested on February 25 at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, where he was trying to board a flight to Turkey on his way to Syria, officials said.
Habibov is accused of funding Saidakhmetov's efforts, and was arrested and made his initial court appearance in the Middle District of Florida.
Juraboev had purchased a ticket to fly to Istanbul in March.
