[UPDATED:] Craig Monteilh, OC's Islamic Mosque Spy, is Dealt a Blow in his Lawsuit Against the FBI

​UPDATE: Federal Judge James V. Selna did not, as expected, dismiss a lawsuit a former informant brought against the FBI but gave the complaint 20 more days of life so it may be amended (updates throughout) . . .

Craig Monteilh, the Irvine fitness instructor who posed as a Muslim to infiltrate Orange County mosques for the FBI, was been dealt a setback in his multimillion-dollar case against the Bureau.

A federal judge in Santa Ana issued a tentative ruling Thursday dismissing Monteilh's lawsuit against the FBI and an assistant special agent identified as the leader of the mosque-spying operation.

Salvador Hernandez gets the scoop in the Orange County Register.

Photo by John Gilhooley/OC Weekly

Craig Monteilh posed as a Muslim to infiltrate Orange County mosques.

​Judge James V. Selna gave Monteilh's attorney, Adam Krowlikowsky, 20 days to amend the complaint, meaning the Bureau and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Barbara Walls are not off the hook yet.

• Man Claiming to be FBI Informant Spins Quite a Tale

The case also names as defendants the Irvine Police Department and retired Irvine PD investigator Ron Carr, who investigated Monteilh in a grand theft case that resulted in a conviction and prison time.

• Talkin' Jihad With Craig Monteilh: Ex-convict, con man, convert--an early conversation with the man who says he spied on the Islamic Center of Irvine on behalf of the feds

His suit contends law enforcement officials violated his civil rights and endangered his life by conspiring to have him arrested on the grand theft charges because elements within the Bureau were cooling to his undercover work.

• Who Was that Mosqued Man? Craig Monteilh insists he was hot on the trail of terrorist plots at OC mosques. Count the victims of his earlier con games among the skeptics

In his tenative ruling, Selna sided with the FBI, saying Monteilh's claims "would undermine the validity of a prior criminal judgment." But, today, the judge granted Krowlikowsky more time to present new evidence.

• Monteilh Asks Judge to Confirm He Was an FBI Informant

Krowlikosky has argued the grand theft investigation came out of Monteilh's work on an FBI drug probe, but the Bureau denies the crime was part of an FBI investigation.

• Craig Monteilh's Mosque Spy Stories Draw FBI Response

Monteilh previously filed a $10 million claim against the FBI, which the agency rejected.

• FBI Rejects OC Mosque Informant's Complaint; Lawsuit Looms

Krowlikosky has not ruled out an appeal if Selna ultimately upholds the dismissal.

• FBI Spy: "Islam Itself is a Threat to National Security"

Monteilh claims his undercover work resulted in the immigration-fraud charges against Ahmadullah Sais Niazi, a Tustin man authorities have tied to Osama bin Laden cronies. Niazi's case is still pending.

• How Do You Stop Terrorists? Ask A Con-Artist

Local Muslims Monteilh spied on were plotting terrorism in Southern California, he previously told the Weekly, which also heard from several people who described him as a con man. Some have testified for the FBI in the current case.

• Muslim Groups Consider Breaking FBI Ties Over Irvine Case