Day: January 8, 2016

American ISIS: Houston – Man Arrested for ISIS Support

On January 7, 2015, Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, 24, a Palestinian born in Iraq, who came to the United States of America reportedly as a refugee, was arrested in Houston, Texas and charged with three counts of material support to the ISIS terrorist organization.  His indictment states that Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan entered the United States as a refugee on or about November 2, 2009.   It states that he lied on his naturalization form  about his associations with terrorist groups, and he also received machine gun training as part of travels with terror groups.

R.E.A.L. also has a report on Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab arrested in Sacramento, California on a related case.

A separate Houston News Channel 2 television report states: “Channel 2 Investigates obtained the city of Houston limousine driver’s permit that Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan obtained in 2014. It lists him as a ‘legal resident.'”  Channel 2 also reported “Other arrests were made in Milwaukee in a separate but connected case, Channel 2 has learned. The Houston arrest is part of a federal terrorism-related investigation. Al Hardan is expected to face three federal charges, including providing support to terrorists.” “KPRC reported Thursday evening that the Texas suspect has lived in Houston for several years and was in contact with people in Milwaukee and Sacramento. The case involved plotting to get people currently in the United States moved overseas, specifically the Middle East.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports:
Texas Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL

Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, 24, a Palestinian born in Iraq, has been charged in a three-count indictment alleging that he attempted to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBI’s Houston Division and Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Moskowitz of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Houston made the announcement.

The three-count indictment was returned on Jan. 6, 2016, and was unsealed today. He will have his initial appearance tomorrow at 10:00 a.m CST in Houston.

Al Hardan entered the United States as an Iraqi refugee on or about Nov. 2, 2009. He was granted legal permanent residence status on or about Aug. 22, 2011, and resides in Houston.

He is charged with one count each of attempting to provide material support to ISIL, procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully and making false statements.

The indictment alleges that Al Hardan attempted to provide material support and resources, including training, expert advice and assistance, and personnel – specifically himself – to a known foreign terrorist organization. According to the allegations, he also knowingly responded, certified and swore untruthfully on his formal application when applying to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. He allegedly represented that he was not associated with a terrorist organization when, in fact, he associated with members and sympathizers of ISIL throughout 2014, according to the charges. The indictment further alleges that during an interview in October 2015, Al Hardan falsely represented that he had never received any type of weapons training, when he allegedly received automatic machine gun training.

The charge of attempting to provide material support to terrorists carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The charge of false citizenship procurement carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison (if the offense was committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism). The charge of making false statements carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison. If convicted, any potential sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal history, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

An indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and HSI with the assistance of the Houston Police Department. Trial Attorney Kashyap Patel of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section is prosecuting the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ralph Imperato of the Southern District of Texas.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in support of our universal human rights for all, and we stand in defiance against those, including terrorist and hate groups, which seek to attack such universal human rights, dignity, and security for all.

We cannot support human rights, if we also do not reject those who seek to rob our brothers and sisters in humanity of their lives and security, which are also our universal human rights.

Sacramento: Man Arrested for False Statements, Support to ISIS Rival Terror Group

On January 7, 2015, Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab, 23, a Palestinian born in Iraq, who came to the United States of America reportedly as a refugee, was arrested in Sacramento, California and charged with making false statements in a terrorist investigation. The U.S. Department of Justice states Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab was a supporter of a terrorist rival group to ISIS, “Ansar al-Islam.”

His criminal complaint states that Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab entered the United States as a refugee from Syria in October 2012.   It states that  “he remains in refugee status to the present date, and as such, he is subject to the jurisdiction of USCIS for  purposes of this offense.”  The criminal complaint states that Al-Jayab lied to the USCIS on whether he had been a member of or supported a “rebel group, militia, or insurgent organization.”   The criminal complaint states that he planned to return to Syria to support a terrorist group, either through   Al-Qaeda alias groups Jabhat al Nusrah (JAN) or  al Nusrah Front (ANF).

The U.S. Department of Justice reported:

California Man Arrested for Making False Statements in a Terrorism Investigation

A Sacramento, California, resident was arrested today on a federal charge of making a false statement involving international terrorism. Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab, 23, is charged in a complaint that was unsealed today in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of California following his arrest. He will have his initial appearance tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. PST in Sacramento.

The arrest was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner of the Eastern District of California and Special Agent in Charge Monica M. Miller of the FBI’s Sacramento Division.

“Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab allegedly traveled overseas to fight alongside terrorist organizations and lied to U.S. authorities about his activities,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “The National Security Division’s highest priority is protecting the nation from terrorism, and we will continue to hold accountable those who seek to join or aid the cause of terrorism, whether at home or abroad.”

“According to the allegations in the complaint, the defendant traveled to Syria to take up arms with terrorist organizations and concealed that conduct from immigration authorities,” said U.S. Attorney Wagner. “While he represented a potential safety threat, there is no indication that he planned any acts of terrorism in this country. I commend the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force for their dedicated work on this matter.”

“In today’s complex terrorism environment, our Joint Terrorism Task Force plays an important role in combating the threat of terrorism. The collaboration is stronger than ever and essential to protect our communities from harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Miller. “The public plays an equal, if not more important, role in protecting the community. We encourage those who encounter individuals who express an intent to do harm or claim allegiance to a terrorist group – whether in person or online – to voice their concerns to law enforcement.”

According to the complaint, Al-Jayab is a Palestinian born in Iraq, who came to the United States as an Iraqi refugee in October 2012. Between October 2012 and November 2013, while living in Arizona and Wisconsin, he communicated over social media with numerous other individuals about his intent to return to Syria to fight for terrorist organizations. In those communications, according to the complaint, Al-Jayab discussed his previous experience with firearms and with fighting against the regime in Syria. On Nov. 9, 2013, he flew from Chicago to Turkey, and then traveled to Syria. Between November 2013 and January 2014, Al-Jayab allegedly reported on social media that he was in Syria fighting with various terrorist organizations, including Ansar al-Islam, a designated foreign terrorist organization since 2004. He returned to the United States on Jan. 23, 2014, and settled in Sacramento.

The complaint alleges that on Oct. 6, 2014, Al-Jayab was interviewed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and responded in the negative to numerous questions, including whether he had ever been a member of any rebel group or militia; whether he had ever provided material support for any person or group engaged in terrorist activity; and whether he had ever been a member of a group, or assisted in a group, which used or threatened the use of weapons against others. Al-Jayab also allegedly stated during the interview that he had traveled to Turkey in late 2013 and early 2014 to visit his grandmother. The complaint alleges that all of those answers were materially false.

If convicted, Al-Jayab faces a maximum statutory penalty of eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Any potential sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal history, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

The charges are only allegations; the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jill Thomas of the Eastern District of California and Trial Attorney Andrew Sigler of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in support of our universal human rights for all, and we stand in defiance against those, including terrorist and hate groups, which seek to attack such universal human rights, dignity, and security for all.

We cannot support human rights, if we also do not reject those who seek to rob our brothers and sisters in humanity of their lives and security, which are also our universal human rights.