Afzali was arrested in September as federal authorities tried to thwart the alleged plot by Najibullah Zazi, a Colorado airport van driver they say received explosives training from al-Qaida on a trip to Pakistan.
Detectives tried to gather information about Zazi from Afzali, who was an imam in the Queens neighborhood where Zazi once lived.
The next day, Afzali called Zazi, telling him, "They asked about you guys," according to court papers.
Prosecutors allege that the imam lied in a statement denying he had tipped off Zazi.
