Nicholas Teausant

Nicholas Teausant is a U.S. citizen and convicted Islamic extremist. In 2014, Teausant reportedly spoke of plans to bomb the Los Angeles subway system around New Year’s.Sharon Bernstein, “Would-be California militant is schizophrenic, lawyer says,” Reuters, December 3, 2014, http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/03/us-usa-security-syria-idUSKCN0JH2NB20141203. Before his arrest, Teausant actively propagated extremist and violent ideology on social media, and maintained accounts on Facebook, Tumblr, Ask.fm, Google+, and Instagram.Adam Serwer, “Accused student terrorist was a social media oversharer,” MSNBC, March 25, 2014, http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/instagram-social-media-terrorism-teausant.

A convert to Islam, Teausant attended San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, California, and later dropped out of the National Guard.Veronica Rocha, “California man sentenced to 12 years for trying to join ISIS,” Los Angeles Times, June 7, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-man-sentenced-terrorism-20160607-snap-story.html. In April 2013, Teausant began posting extremist content online.Sam Stanton and Denny Walsh, “Lodi-area Islamic State supporter pleads guilty, faces 15 years in prison,” Sacramento Bee, December 1, 2015, http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article47317295.html;
Sam Stanton and Denny Walsh, “Lodi area man who tried to join the Islamic State sentenced to 12 years in prison,” Sacramento Bee, June 7, 2016, http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article82266127.html. A paid FBI informant reached out to Teausant, who revealed his plan to bomb the Los Angeles subway system and join ISIS. Teausant later disregarded his plot to bomb the subway, suspecting the FBI would foil his plan.Sam Stanton and Denny Walsh, “Lodi area man who tried to join the Islamic State sentenced to 12 years in prison,” Sacramento Bee, June 7, 2016, http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article82266127.html;
Veronica Rocha, “California man sentenced to 12 years for trying to join ISIS,” Los Angeles Times, June 7, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-man-sentenced-terrorism-20160607-snap-story.html.

On March 17, 2014, Teausant attempted to travel to Canada in order to fly to the Middle East to join ISIS. He was arrested at the Blaine, Washington, border station by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and FBI agents.Veronica Rocha, “California man sentenced to 12 years for trying to join ISIS,” Los Angeles Times, June 7, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-man-sentenced-terrorism-20160607-snap-story.html.

Defense lawyers argued Teausant suffers from mental illness, specifically schizophrenia. Following psychological evaluations, he was determined fit to stand trial.Sam Stanton and Denny Walsh, “Lodi area man who tried to join the Islamic State sentenced to 12 years in prison,” Sacramento Bee, June 7, 2016, http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article82266127.html. On December 1, 2015, Teausant pled guilty to attempting to join ISIS. “California man pleads guilty to attempting to join ISIS,” CBS Sacramento, December 1, 2015, http://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-man-nicholas-teausant-pleads-guilty-to-attempting-to-join-isis/.

On June 7, 2016, Teausant was sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS. In addition to the prison term, he was sentenced to 25 years of supervised release.“California Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Attempting to Join ISIL,” Department of Justice, June 7, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/california-man-sentenced-12-years-prison-attempting-join-isil.

Also Known As

Extremist entity
ISIS
Read Threat Report
Type(s) of Organization:
Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
Position(s):
Foreign fighter, propagandist

ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.

  • Rhetoric

Feb. 2014

“I want my face on FBI’s top 12 most wanted. Because that means I’m doing something right.”Sharon Bernstein, “Would-be California militant is schizophrenic, lawyer says,” Reuters, December 3, 2014, http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/03/us-usa-security-syria-idUSKCN0JH2NB20141203.

Nov. 2013

In response to the Ask.fm question, “If you could have any question answered, what would it be?”:

“[H]ow do you bring america to its knees?”“United States of America v. Nicholas Michael Teausant,” U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, March 17, 2014, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-edca/legacy/2014/03/17/Teausant%20Complaint%20.pdf.

Aug. 5, 2013

“[Anyone know where I can get the] ‘lone Mujahid pocket pook’ #alqaeda #jihadist #jihad #islamicpride #muslim #mashallah #islam #allah #AllahuAkbar #thelonemujahid.”(Instagram post)“United States of America v. Nicholas Michael Teausant,” U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, March 17, 2014, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-edca/legacy/2014/03/17/Teausant%20Complaint%20.pdf.

Late Jul. 2013

In response to the Ask.fm question, “are you a terrorist??”:

“Lol as if I would tell the truth about Thathaha wow and no I’m not.”“United States of America v. Nicholas Michael Teausant,” U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, March 17, 2014, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-edca/legacy/2014/03/17/Teausant%20Complaint%20.pdf.

May 31, 2013

“[D]on’t get me wrong I despise America and want its down fall but yeah haha. Lol I been part of the army for two years now and I would love to join Allah’s army but I don’t even know how to start.” (Instagram post)“United States of America v. Nicholas Michael Teausant,” U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, March 17, 2014, http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/usao-edca/legacy/2014/03/17/Teausant%20Complaint%20.pdf.

Date Unknown

“The people you call terrorist aren’t really terrorist they are just doing what your afraid to do, the government fears these people and that’s why they are called terrorist..” (Facebook post)Adam Serwer, “Accused student terrorist was a social media oversharer,” MSNBC, March 25, 2014, http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/instagram-social-media-terrorism-teausant.

Date Unknown

“Hey kaffir…lets make some art. Lol #jews” (Facebook post)Adam Serwer, “Accused student terrorist was a social media oversharer,” MSNBC, March 25, 2014, http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/instagram-social-media-terrorism-teausant.
(Post accompanied by violent image)

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Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

Fact:

On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers. 

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