Ahmad Khan Rahami carried out the New York and New Jersey bombings, planted on September 17 and September 18, 2016.Marc Santora, William K. Rashbaum, Al Baker, and Adam Goldman, “Ahmad Khan Rahami Is Arrested in Manhattan and New Jersey Bombings,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/nyc-nj-explosions-ahmad-khan-rahami.html. Rahami—an Afghan-born U.S. citizen and former resident of Elizabeth, New Jersey—was convicted of planting four improvised explosive devices (IEDs)Marc Santora, William K. Rashbaum, Al Baker, and Adam Goldman, “Ahmad Khan Rahami Is Arrested in Manhattan and New Jersey Bombings,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/nyc-nj-explosions-ahmad-khan-rahami.html. and injuring 33 people over the course of three days: 31 people in the pressure-cooker bomb that exploded in New York City’s Chelsea district on September 17, and two police officers in a New Jersey shootout on September 19.Marc Santora, William K. Rashbaum, Al Baker, and Adam Goldman, “Ahmad Khan Rahami Is Arrested in Manhattan and New Jersey Bombings,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/nyc-nj-explosions-ahmad-khan-rahami.html;
“FBI: Rahmani Linked to Bombs in New York and New Jersey,” NBC News, September 19, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/video/fbi-rahmani-linked-to-bombs-in-new-york-and-new-jersey-768647747830. No one was injured in the remaining three IED attacks attributed to Rahami, two of which he failed to detonate.Tom Winter, Jonathan Dienst, Pete Williams, and Chris Francescani, “Terror Timeline: The NY/NJ Bombings, From First Blast to Arrest,” NBC News, September 19, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ny-nj-bombings/terror-timeline-ny-nj-bombings-first-blast-arrest-n650716.

After a days-long manhunt, Rahami was found and arrested on September 19 in Linden, New Jersey, close to his parents’ home in neighboring Elizabeth.Marc Santora, William K. Rashbaum, Al Baker, and Adam Goldman, “Ahmad Khan Rahami Is Arrested in Manhattan and New Jersey Bombings,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/nyc-nj-explosions-ahmad-khan-rahami.html. After engaging in a shootout with police, Rahami was taken into custody and transferred to University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. Rahami was charged later that day with seven counts, including five counts of attempted murder of a police officer, with his bail set at $5.2 million.Marc Santora, William K. Rashbaum, Al Baker, and Adam Goldman, “Ahmad Khan Rahami Is Arrested in Manhattan and New Jersey Bombings,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/nyc-nj-explosions-ahmad-khan-rahami.html. On September 20, 2016, the U.S. brought formal charges against Rahami, including use of weapons of mass destruction and bombing a place of public use.“Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Ahmad Khan Rahami a/k/a/ ‘Ahmad Rahimi,’ defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” September 20, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/894396/download. A notebook belonging to Rahami and discovered by law enforcement upon Rahami’s arrest allegedly included messages praising Osama bin Laden and U.S.-born al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.“Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Ahmad Khan Rahami a/k/a/ ‘Ahmad Rahimi,’ defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” September 20, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/894396/download.

The first IED linked to Rahami was discovered on the morning of Saturday, September 17, when—at approximately 9:35 a.m. EST—a pipe bomb fizzled and exploded in a garbage can in New Jersey’s Seaside Park, near the route of the Seaside Marine Corps Charity 5K Race.Sarah Almukhtar, Ford Fessenden, K.K. Rebecca Lai, Tim Wallace, and Derek Watkins;
“How the Manhunt for the Chelsea Bombing Suspect Unfolded,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/19/nyregion/chelsea-bombing-explosion-maps-timeline.html;
Tom Winter, Jonathan Dienst, Pete Williams, and Chris Francescani, “Terror Timeline: The NY/NJ Bombings, From First Blast to Arrest,” NBC News, September 19, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ny-nj-bombings/terror-timeline-ny-nj-bombings-first-blast-arrest-n650716. According to law enforcement, the race—which sought to raise money for the U.S. Marine Corps—began late, explaining why no one was killed or injured in the attack.Evan Perez, Shimon Prokupecz, and John Newsome, “Blast Near Marine Corps Race in New Jersey Probed as Possible Terror Act,” CNN, September 18, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/17/us/nj-explosive-trash-can. Eleven hours later, at approximately 8:30 p.m. EST, a pressure-cooker bomb, packed with ball bearings and steel nuts, exploded near a dumpster in New York’s Chelsea district in Manhattan, blowing up a dumpster 150 feet down the street, shattering windows a block away, and leaving 31 people wounded, including one British citizen. Sarah Almukhtar, Ford Fessenden, K.K. Rebecca Lai, Tim Wallace, and Derek Watkins;
“How the Manhunt for the Chelsea Bombing Suspect Unfolded,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/19/nyregion/chelsea-bombing-explosion-maps-timeline.html;
“Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Ahmad Khan Rahami a/k/a/ ‘Ahmad Rahimi,’ defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” September 20, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/894396/download.

Hours after the attack in Chelsea—at approximately 11:30 p.m. EST—police discovered and removed an unexploded pressure-cooker bomb a few blocks away in Chelsea. Sarah Almukhtar, Ford Fessenden, K.K. Rebecca Lai, Tim Wallace, and Derek Watkins;
“How the Manhunt for the Chelsea Bombing Suspect Unfolded,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/19/nyregion/chelsea-bombing-explosion-maps-timeline.html. The fourth IED linked to Rahami—a backpack containing six unexploded pipe bombs—was discovered at 8:40 p.m. the following evening near a train station in Elizabeth, New Jersey.Michael Wilson, “New Jersey Man Found Guilty in Chelsea Bombing,” New York Times, October 16, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/nyregion/chelsea-bombing-verdict.html;
Sarah Almukhtar, Ford Fessenden, K.K. Rebecca Lai, Tim Wallace, and Derek Watkins;
“How the Manhunt for the Chelsea Bombing Suspect Unfolded,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/19/nyregion/chelsea-bombing-explosion-maps-timeline.html. Police disarmed the bombs remotely, detonating one of the pipe bombs in the process.Sarah Almukhtar, Ford Fessenden, K.K. Rebecca Lai, Tim Wallace, and Derek Watkins;
“How the Manhunt for the Chelsea Bombing Suspect Unfolded,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/09/19/nyregion/chelsea-bombing-explosion-maps-timeline.html;
“Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Ahmad Khan Rahami a/k/a/ ‘Ahmad Rahimi,’ defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” September 20, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/894396/download.

Law enforcement initially treated the investigations in New York and New Jersey as separate incidents, but soon after linked Rahami to all four IEDs. Rahami’s fingerprints were discovered on the unexploded bomb in New York as well as the backpack of pipe bombs in Elizabeth.“Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Ahmad Khan Rahami a/k/a/ ‘Ahmad Rahimi,’ defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” September 20, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/894396/download. Surveillance footage also showed that Rahami was at the scene of both bomb locations in Chelsea. The exploded bombs in Chelsea and Seaside Park were both primed by cellphones that were purchased at the same Family Dollar store in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.Tom Winter, Jonathan Dienst, Pete Williams, and Chris Francescani, “Terror Timeline: The NY/NJ Bombings, From First Blast to Arrest,” NBC News, September 19, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ny-nj-bombings/terror-timeline-ny-nj-bombings-first-blast-arrest-n650716;
Tom Winter, Miguel Almaguer, Jonathan Dienst, and Corky Siemaszko, “Ahmad Rahami, Suspect in N.Y. and N.J. Bombings, Charged With Attempted Murder,” NBC News, September 19, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ny-nj-bombings/ahmad-rahami-identified-n-y-n-j-bombings-suspect-officials-n650306. The unexploded bomb in Chelsea also contained a cellphone that was registered in the name of one of Rahami’s family members.“Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Ahmad Khan Rahami a/k/a/ ‘Ahmad Rahimi,’ defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” September 20, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/894396/download.

On September 19, 2016, at around 8:00 a.m. EST, New York City issued a cellphone alert: “WANTED: Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28-yr-old male. See media for pic. Call 9-1-1 if seen.”J. David Goodman and David Gelles, “Cellphone Alerts Used in New York to Search for Bombing Suspect,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/cellphone-alerts-used-in-search-of-manhattan-bombing-suspect.html. The police department also shared the wanted poster via its Twitter account.“The work of a terrorist” behind New York’s explosion… and Ahmad Khan Rahami is suspected,” Al-Araby (London), September 19, 2016, https://www.alaraby.co.uk/amp//politics/2016/9/19/عمل-إرهابي-وراء-انفجار-نيويورك-والمشتبه-أحمد-خان-رحامي. New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo said, “The bomb which exploded was a terrorist act, but there is no evidence of his (Rahami’s) connection to international jihadist groups.”“The work of a terrorist” behind New York’s explosion… and Ahmad Khan Rahami is suspected,” Al-Araby (London), September 19, 2016, https://www.alaraby.co.uk/amp//politics/2016/9/19/عمل-إرهابي-وراء-انفجار-نيويورك-والمشتبه-أحمد-خان-رحامي. At around 10:30 a.m., Rahami was discovered by police in Linden, New Jersey, asleep in the doorway of a bar.Barbara Demick, Del Quentin Wilber, Vera Haller, and Matt Pearce, “Suspect in New York-area bombings had traveled to Afghanistan and Pakistan,” Los Angeles Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-new-york-bomb-suspect-20160919-snap-story.html. According to the Linden Police Department, shortly after trying to wake Rahami, the police officer realized that he resembled the man in the wanted poster.Marc Santora, William K. Rashbaum, Al Baker, and Adam Goldman, “Ahmad Khan Rahami Is Arrested in Manhattan and New Jersey Bombings,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/nyc-nj-explosions-ahmad-khan-rahami.html. The officer then ordered Rahami to show his hands at which point Rahami allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot the officer in the chest, hitting the officer’s bulletproof vest.Marc Santora, William K. Rashbaum, Al Baker, and Adam Goldman, “Ahmad Khan Rahami Is Arrested in Manhattan and New Jersey Bombings,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/nyc-nj-explosions-ahmad-khan-rahami.html. Rahami then reportedly fled the scene, shooting indiscriminately at passersby.Marc Santora, William K. Rashbaum, Al Baker, and Adam Goldman, “Ahmad Khan Rahami Is Arrested in Manhattan and New Jersey Bombings,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/nyc-nj-explosions-ahmad-khan-rahami.html. Other officers reportedly joined the chase, shooting Rahami multiple times before overtaking him, taking him into custody, and transferring him to University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey.Marc Santora, William K. Rashbaum, Al Baker, and Adam Goldman, “Ahmad Khan Rahami Is Arrested in Manhattan and New Jersey Bombings,” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/nyc-nj-explosions-ahmad-khan-rahami.html. Two officers were injured in the gunfire exchange, according to a briefing by the FBI. One of the officers was allegedly shot by Rahami as he sought to flee. The other officer was reportedly wounded by flying glass and shrapnel as a result of the gunfire exchange.“FBI: Rahmani Linked to Bombs in New York and New Jersey,” NBC News, September 19, 2016, http://www.nbcnews.com/video/fbi-rahmani-linked-to-bombs-in-new-york-and-new-jersey-768647747830;
Katie Little and Christine Wang, “NY/NJ Bombing Suspect Charged with 5 Counts of Attempted Murder of a Law Enforcement Officer: NBC,” CNBC, September 19, 2016, http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/19/ahmad-rahami-in-custody-after-shooting-police-officer-in-linden-nj-wnbc-citing-source.html.

For years before the series of bomb attacks in September 2016, Rahami had shown few signs of radicalization, according to several friends and neighbors. Born in Afghanistan, Rahami and his family came to the United States in 1995 after Rahami’s father claimed asylum.Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef, Katie Zavadski, and Katie Briquelet, “Ahmad Khan Rahami, Accused NYC Bomber, Traveled to Pakistan Undetected by U.S.,” Daily Beast, September 19, 2016, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/09/19/ahmad-khan-rahami-arrested-but-questions-remain-about-bombings.html. Rahami grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey, attending local public school and residing with his family in an apartment above their family-run restaurant, First American Fried Chicken. The restaurant—a fast-food joint described in news outlets as “always open”—received a series of noise complaints from neighbors.N. R. Kleinfeld, “Ahmad Rahami: Fixture in Family’s Business and, Lately, a ‘Completely Different Person,’” New York  Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/ahmad-khan-rahami-bombing-suspect.html. In June 2010, two of Rahami’s brothers—identified as Mohammad K. and Mohammad Q.—were arrested after engaging in an altercation with police who had come to the restaurant to close it down for the evening. One of the brothers was not charged, while the other pled guilty to charges and paid a $100 fine.N. R. Kleinfeld, “Ahmad Rahami: Fixture in Family’s Business and, Lately, a ‘Completely Different Person,’” New York  Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/ahmad-khan-rahami-bombing-suspect.html. In 2011, Rahami’s parents filed an unsuccessful lawsuit against the city and its police department, accusing them of religious-based harassment and intimidation.N. R. Kleinfeld, “Ahmad Rahami: Fixture in Family’s Business and, Lately, a ‘Completely Different Person,’” New York  Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/ahmad-khan-rahami-bombing-suspect.html.

According to some neighbors, Rahami’s radicalization may have begun as early as 2011, when Rahami spent several weeks in Kandahar, Afghanistan, and Quetta, Pakistan, an area known for its Taliban presence.Catherine E. Shoichet, “Ahmad Khan Rahami: What We Know about the Bombing Suspect,” CNN, September 20, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/19/us/ahmad-khan-rahami. It was during this trip that Rahami reportedly married a Pakistani woman, Asia Bibi Rahami.Catherine E. Shoichet, Shimon Prokupecz, and Evan Perez, “Ahmad Khan Rahami’s Wife Left US Before Bombings,” CNN, September 20, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/09/20/us/ahmad-khan-rahami-wife/. In August 2014, Rahami’s father contacted law enforcement, fearing that his son had been radicalized. The FBI investigated the claim but did not find cause for a full inquiry, according to the bureau.Marc Santora and Adam Goldman, “Ahmad Khan Rahami Was Inspired by Bin Laden, Charges Say,” New York Times, September 20, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/21/nyregion/ahmad-khan-rahami-suspect.html;
Spencer Ackerman, Paul Owen, and Amber Jamieson, “Ahmad Khan Rahami’s Father Contacted FBI in 2014 over Terrorism Worry,” Guardian (London), September 20, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/20/ahmad-khan-rahami-father-fbi-terrorism-bombing. The FBI claimed that it had conducted “internal database reviews, interagency checks, and multiple interviews” as part of its preliminary investigation, but none of the inquiries “revealed ties to terrorism.”Spencer Ackerman, Paul Owen, and Amber Jamieson, “Ahmad Khan Rahami’s Father Contacted FBI in 2014 over Terrorism Worry,” Guardian (London), September 20, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/20/ahmad-khan-rahami-father-fbi-terrorism-bombing.

Because Rahami was not placed on a watch list as a result of the FBI investigation, he was able to travel to the Afghanistan-Pakistan region at least three times between 2014 and 2016 without detection by law enforcement, according to U.S. officials.Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef, Katie Zavadski, and Katie Briquelet, “Ahmad Khan Rahami, Accused NYC Bomber, Traveled to Pakistan Undetected by U.S.,” Daily Beast, September 19, 2016, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/09/19/ahmad-khan-rahami-arrested-but-questions-remain-about-bombings.html. Following Rahami’s return to the United States, he became noticeably more religiously observant, according to patrons at the Rahamis’ family-run restaurant. Customers noticed that Rahami started to wear more traditional Muslim clothing, sport a beard, and pray in the back of the restaurant.N. R. Kleinfeld, “Ahmad Rahami: Fixture in Family’s Business and, Lately, a ‘Completely Different Person,’” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/ahmad-khan-rahami-bombing-suspect.html.

Though Rahami may have been radicalized to extremist ideology during his visits to the Af-Pak region, Rahami had a prior history of arrests and violence dating back to 2008. On one occasion in 2012, Rahami spent a day in jail after allegedly violating a restraining order filed against him.N. R. Kleinfeld, “Ahmad Rahami: Fixture in Family’s Business and, Lately, a ‘Completely Different Person,’” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/ahmad-khan-rahami-bombing-suspect.html. In another incident in 2014, Rahami spent three months in jail on charges of aggravated assault and illegal possession of a firearm after allegedly stabbing a relative in the leg.N. R. Kleinfeld, “Ahmad Rahami: Fixture in Family’s Business and, Lately, a ‘Completely Different Person,’” New York Times, September 19, 2016, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/20/nyregion/ahmad-khan-rahami-bombing-suspect.html. It was reportedly this violent incident in 2014 that prompted Rahami’s father to contact the FBI and request an investigation.Spencer Ackerman, Paul Owen, and Amber Jamieson, “Ahmad Khan Rahami’s Father Contacted FBI in 2014 over Terrorism Worry,” Guardian (London), September 20, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/sep/20/ahmad-khan-rahami-father-fbi-terrorism-bombing.

According to reports, Rahami may have begun planning for the New York and New Jersey attacks as far back as February 2015, when he allegedly purchased the first of two flip phones used as timers for the IEDs.“Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Ahmad Khan Rahami a/k/a/ ‘Ahmad Rahimi,’ defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” September 20, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/894396/download. In June 2016, Rahami allegedly began purchasing bomb-related materials off of eBay, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.“Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Ahmad Khan Rahami a/k/a/ ‘Ahmad Rahimi,’ defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” September 20, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/894396/download. Two days before the September 17 attacks, Rahami was recorded on a family member’s cellphone lighting “incendiary materials” in a “cylindrical container,” according to the criminal complaint.“Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Ahmad Khan Rahami a/k/a/ ‘Ahmad Rahimi,’ defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” September 20, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/894396/download.

On October 16, 2017, Rahami was convicted in connection to the New York and New Jersey attacks, including use of weapons of mass destruction and bombing a place of public use.Michael Wilson, “New Jersey Man Found Guilty in Chelsea Bombing,” New York Times, October 16, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/nyregion/chelsea-bombing-verdict.html; “Criminal Complaint: United States of America v. Ahmad Khan Rahami a/k/a/ ‘Ahmad Rahimi,’ defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York,” September 20, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/file/894396/download. The conviction carried a mandatory life sentence.“Ahmad Khan Rahimi found guilty of New York bombing,” BBC News, October 16, 2017, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41642571; Michael Wilson, “New Jersey Man Found Guilty in Chelsea Bombing,” New York Times, October 16, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/16/nyregion/chelsea-bombing-verdict.html. On January 24, 2020, Rahami was sentenced to a second life sentence for the attempted murder of five police officers stemming from a shootout with police in New Jersey two days after the bomb had exploded.“Convicted Chelsea Bomber Ahmad Khan Rahimi Gets 2nd Life Sentence in Attempted Cop Killings,” NBC New York, January 24, 2020, https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/convicted-chelsea-bomber-ahmad-khan-rahimi-gets-2nd-life-sentence-in-attempted-cop-killings/2266059/.

Rezwan Ferdaus is a U.S. citizen of Bangladeshi origin and a convicted domestic extremist sympathetic to al-Qaeda.“Rezwan Ferdaus admits US model plane explosives plot, BBC News, July 21, 2012, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-18936072;
Agent Gary S. Cacace, “Affidavit of Special Agent Gary S. Cacace,” Guardian (London), September 28, 2011, http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Guardian/documents/2011/09/29/affidavit.pdf. In July 2012, he pled guilty to attempting to blow up the Pentagon and the U.S. Capitol using remote-controlled planes, as well as attempting to give material support to the Foreign Terrorist Organization al-Qaeda.Jess Bidgood, “Massachusetts Man Gets 17 Years in Terrorist Plot,” New York Times, November 2, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/us/rezwan-ferdaus-of-massachusetts-gets-17-years-in-terrorist-plot.html?_r=1. He told undercover FBI agents that he sought to kill American soldiers and that he never wavered in his convictions, even when given “dozens” of opportunities to back out of his plans by agents whom he believed were al-Qaeda operatives.Jess Bidgood, “Massachusetts Man Gets 17 Years in Terrorist Plot,” New York Times, November 2, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/us/rezwan-ferdaus-of-massachusetts-gets-17-years-in-terrorist-plot.html?_r=1. In fact, according to the FBI, Ferdaus “repeatedly reaffirmed his commitment to his attack plans and his hope to cause mass destruction and psychological harm to the United States.”“Man Sentenced in Boston for Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Detonation Devices to Terrorists,” FBI, November 1, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2012/man-sentenced-in-boston-for-plotting-attack-on-pentagon-and-u.s.-capitol-and-attempting-to-provide-detonation-devices-to-terrorists.

Ferdaus began to build parts for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in January 2011. That June, he gave the first of several of his devices to individuals he believed were al-Qaeda operatives, but were in fact undercover FBI agents. When falsely told by agents that his IEDs had killed U.S. soldiers, Ferdaus said he was “100% [at] peace,” and “so happy to hear that and so thankful,” according to the FBI.“Man Sentenced in Boston for Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Detonation Devices to Terrorists,” FBI, November 1, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2012/man-sentenced-in-boston-for-plotting-attack-on-pentagon-and-u.s.-capitol-and-attempting-to-provide-detonation-devices-to-terrorists.

In May 2011, Ferdaus traveled to Washington, D.C., to carry out surveillance on federal buildings. He also identified a site in East Potomac Park, Washington, from where to launch drone strikes.“Man Sentenced in Boston for Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Detonation Devices to Terrorists,” FBI, November 1, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2012/man-sentenced-in-boston-for-plotting-attack-on-pentagon-and-u.s.-capitol-and-attempting-to-provide-detonation-devices-to-terrorists. After renting a storage space under a false name in September 2011, Ferdaus asked his undercover contacts to give him “C-4 explosives, three grenades, and six fully automatic AK-47 assault rifles,” according to the FBI.“Man Sentenced in Boston for Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Detonation Devices to Terrorists,” FBI, November 1, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2012/man-sentenced-in-boston-for-plotting-attack-on-pentagon-and-u.s.-capitol-and-attempting-to-provide-detonation-devices-to-terrorists.

Ferdaus was arrested by FBI agents shortly after receiving these items. In July 2012, he pled guilty to two charges of conspiring to damage and destroy U.S. federal property with explosives, and attempting to provide material support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Prosecutors dropped six other charges in exchange for his guilty plea.“Rezwan Ferdaus admits US model plane explosives plot, BBC News, July 21, 2012, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-18936072. In November of that year, Ferdaus was sentenced to 17 years in prison and 10 years of supervision upon release.Jess Bidgood, “Massachusetts Man Gets 17 Years in Terrorist Plot,” New York Times, November 2, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/us/rezwan-ferdaus-of-massachusetts-gets-17-years-in-terrorist-plot.html?_r=1. According to the FBI affidavit, Ferdaus “planned to commit acts of violence against the United States, both here and abroad.” He also filmed a 20 minute training video that he believed would be used to train al-Qaeda militants.Jess Bidgood, “Massachusetts Man Gets 17 Years in Terrorist Plot,” New York Times, November 2, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/us/rezwan-ferdaus-of-massachusetts-gets-17-years-in-terrorist-plot.html?_r=1.

Ferdaus had previously communicated with Jesse Morton, founder of the now-defunct extremist group and website Revolution Muslim.Matt Zapotosky, “The feds billed him as a threat to American freedom. Now they’re paying him for help,” Washington Post, February 5, 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/the-feds-billed-him-as-a-threat-to-american-freedom-now-theyre-paying-him-for-help/2016/02/04/32be460a-c6c5-11e5-a4aa-f25866ba0dc6_story.html. According to the FBI, in February 2010 Ferdaus sought the advice of Morton regarding the propriety of martyrdom operations.  Morton replied that such operations could have “enormous benfits (sic) in a war of attrition.”“Man Sentenced in Boston for Plotting Attack on Pentagon and U.S. Capitol and Attempting to Provide Detonation Devices to Terrorists,” FBI, November 1, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/boston/press-releases/2012/man-sentenced-in-boston-for-plotting-attack-on-pentagon-and-u.s.-capitol-and-attempting-to-provide-detonation-devices-to-terrorists. Morton later “admitted to influencing Rezwan Ferdaus,” according to the New York Police Department.“Terrorist Plots Targeting New York City,” New York Police Department, accessed September 6, 2016, http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/pr/plots_targeting_nyc.shtml. Morton later “admitted to influencing Rezwan Ferdaus,” according to the New York Police Department.Jason Ryan, Pierre Thomas, and Richard Esposito, “New York Man Guilty in ‘South Park’ Murder Threat,” ABC News, February 09, 2012, https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/york-man-guilty-south-park-murder-threat/story?id=15548422.

Jose Pimentel is a New York resident who was convicted on terrorism-related charges in February 2014.James C. McKinley Jr., “Man Pleads Guilty to Reduced Charge in Terrorism Case,” New York Times, February 29, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/20/nyregion/manhattan-man-pleads-guilty-to-reduced-charges-in-terror-case.html;
Suman Varandani, “Jose Pimentel, US Citizen And Al Qaeda Sympathizer, Sentenced To 16 Years In Prison In New York City Pipe Bomb Case,” International Business Times, March 26, 2014, http://www.ibtimes.com/jose-pimentel-us-citizen-al-qaeda-sympathizer-sentenced-16-years-prison-new-york-city-pipe-bomb-case. Pimentel—a convert to Islam who ran extremist website trueislam1.com—had told a police informant of his intention to kill Americans in retaliation for the murder of al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.James C. McKinley Jr., “Man Pleads Guilty to Reduced Charge in Terrorism Case,” New York Times, February 29, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/20/nyregion/manhattan-man-pleads-guilty-to-reduced-charges-in-terror-case.html. Pimentel was arrested in his Bronx home in November 2011 while in possession of a homemade explosive device that, by Pimentel’s account, was one hour away from completion.“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 3, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf.

Before his arrest in November 2011, Pimentel owned and maintained an extremist website known as True Islam (trueislam1.com, formerly TrueIslam12.blogspot.com). Pimentel had also interacted online with other American extremists. In early April 2011, Pimentel emailed extremist Jesse Morton, saying that he was a “big fan” of Morton’s extremist websites RevolutionMuslim.com and IslamPolicy.com, according to court documents.“United States of America v. Jesse Curtis Morton: Statement of Facts,” accessed September 2, 2016, 24, http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/case_docs/1905.pdf. In the email, Pimentel also inquired whether Morton thought that an unnamed individual known to the two of them was trustworthy. Morton replied to Pimentel’s email later that day urging him to stay away from the individual in question, and said that there was a “high probability that [the individual] is working for the FBI.”“United States of America v. Jesse Curtis Morton: Statement of Facts,” accessed September 2, 2016, 24, http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/case_docs/1905.pdf.

Like Morton’s RevolutionMuslim.com website, Pimentel’s True Islam website hosted al-Qaeda’s official propaganda materials, including the group’s English-language Inspire magazine, which contained instructions on how to create a bomb. The website also hosted a series of articles that praised and eulogized known terrorist figures.“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 3, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf.

One such True Islam article, in support of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, openly called for the murder of U.S. citizens. The article—titled “Why Usama Ibn Laden is the Leader of the Believers”—asserted that America and its allies are “legitimate targets in warfare.” The article went on to describe potential locations that readers could target. Among the locations listed in the article were “facilities such as army bases, police stations, political facilities, embassies, CIA and FBI buildings, private and public airports” as well as “all kinds of buildings where money is being made to help fund the war[s in Afghanistan and Iraq].”“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 3, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf.

In September 2011, Pimentel told a police informant that he was himself interested in creating bombs to target “government establishments, police establishments, and banks,” according to the criminal complaint filed against him.“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 3, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf. On October 18, 2011, Pimentel expressed his desire to use an explosive device to kill U.S. soldiers returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to the criminal complaint.“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 3-4, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf.

Days later, Pimentel went to a 99-cent store and Home Depot to purchase the bomb-making materials outlined in al-Qaeda’s online Inspire magazine. Among other materials, Pimentel purchased a clock, elbow piping, matches, Christmas lights, batteries, and drill bits, according to the criminal complaint.“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 4, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf. Pimentel was nearly complete with his bomb by mid-November, according to an assessment by the New York Police Department (NYPD) Bomb Squad. He was arrested in his home in the Bronx on November 19, 2011.“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 4-5, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf.

Upon his arrest, Pimentel acknowledged that he had purchased the bomb-related materials in question, and was approximately one hour from finishing the bomb.“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 1, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf. Pimentel stated to police his belief that Islamic law obligates him and all true Muslims to wage war in the United States to avenge the United States’ invasion of Muslim lands.“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 1, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf. Pimentel was subsequently charged with three counts of terrorism-related offenses, including soliciting or providing support for an act of terrorism, and the possession of a weapon as a crime of terrorism.“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 1, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf. Pimentel was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree and conspiracy in the fourth degree.“People of the State of New York v. Jose Pimentel a.k.a. Muhammad Yusuf,” Official Website of the City of New York, November 20, 2011, 1, http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/pdf/2011/jose_pimentel_complaint.pdf.

On February 19, 2014, Pimentel accepted a deal with prosecutors and pled guilty to a single charge of criminal possession of a weapon in the first degree as a crime of terrorism.James C. McKinley Jr., “Man Pleads Guilty to Reduced Charge in Terrorism Case,” New York Times, February 29, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/20/nyregion/manhattan-man-pleads-guilty-to-reduced-charges-in-terror-case.html. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison on March 25, 2014.James C. McKinley Jr., “Judge Imposes 16-Year Term for Manhattan Man in Pipe Bomb Case,” New York Times, March 25, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/26/nyregion/judge-imposes-16-year-term-for-manhattan-man-in-pipe-bomb-case.html.

Antonio Benjamin Martinez is a U.S. citizen and would-be domestic terrorist. He is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for attempting to bomb an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland.Charlie Savage and Gary Gately, “Man Arrested in Bomb Plot in Maryland,” New York Times, December 8. 2010, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/us/09bomb.html. Martinez, a Hispanic convert to Islam, came under FBI investigation in October 2010 after he published several jihadist-related posts on his Facebook account.“United States of America v. Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Muhammad Hussain,” U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, December 9, 2010, 3, http://s3.amazonaws.com/nytdocs/docs/536/536.pdf. He was arrested in December 2010 after plotting an attack alongside undercover FBI agents.“United States of America v. Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Muhammad Hussain,” U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, December 9, 2010, 16, http://s3.amazonaws.com/nytdocs/docs/536/536.pdf. Martinez pled guilty in June 2012 and was sentenced in April of that year.“Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center,” FBI, January 26, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/baltimore/press-releases/2012/maryland-man-pleads-guilty-to-attempted-use-of-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction-in-plot-to-attack-armed-forces-recruiting-center;
U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Maryland, “Maryland Man Sentenced to 25 Years In Prison For Attempted Use Of A Weapon Of Mass Destruction In Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 6, 2012,  https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/md/news/2012/MarylandManSentencedto25YearsinPrisonforAttemptedUseofaWeaponofMassDestruction.html.

Before his December 2010 arrest, Martinez reportedly operated a Facebook account under the alias “Muhammad Hussain.” According to the FBI, Martinez’s Facebook “friends” included “Authentic Tawheed,” a pro-jihad website founded by internationally-banned extremist Abdullah Faisal.“United States of America v. Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Muhammad Hussain,” U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, December 9, 2010, 9, http://s3.amazonaws.com/nytdocs/docs/536/536.pdf;
“Authentic Tauheed,” Authentic Tauheed, accessed September 12, 2015, http://www.authentictauheed.com/;
Shiv Malik, “Radical Cleric Urges Islamic State to Release British Hostage Alan Henning,” Guardian (London), September 24, 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/24/radical-cleric-islamic-state-release-british-hostage-alan-henning. Martinez was also “friends” with “Call to Islam,” a U.K.-based online network affiliated with the now-defunct group and website Revolution Muslim. Revolution Muslim was led by U.S. citizen Jesse Morton, who pled guilty in February 2012 to conspiring to solicit murder and using the Internet “to place others in fear.”“Leader of Revolution Muslim Pleads Guilty to Using Internet to Solicit Murder and Encourage Violent Extremism,” FBI, February 9, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/washingtondc/press-releases/2012/leader-of-revolution-muslim-pleads-guilty-to-using-internet-to-solicit-murder-and-encourage-violent-extremism. According to court documents, one month before his arrest, Martinez viewed a video of Osama bin Laden as well as footage from terrorist training camps on the Revolution Muslim website.“Statement of Facts: United States of America v. Jesse Curtis Morton, defendant,” U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 24.

Martinez began communicating with an FBI information via Facebook in October 2010. In initial conversations, Martinez stated his desire to travel to Pakistan or Afghanistan, or, as Martinez explained, any country that “struggle[s] for the sake of Allah.”“United States of America v. Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Muhammad Hussain,” U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, December 9, 2010, 3, http://s3.amazonaws.com/nytdocs/docs/536/536.pdf. According to the FBI informant—referred to in the criminal complaint as a confidential human source (CHS)—Martinez revealed his desire to target “anything military,” reasoning that U.S. soldiers were deserving of death because of their operations in Muslim countries.“United States of America v. Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Muhammad Hussain,” U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, December 9, 2010, 3, http://s3.amazonaws.com/nytdocs/docs/536/536.pdf. Later that month, in a meeting with the CHS, Martinez praised deceased al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, calling him his “beloved sheikh.”“United States of America v. Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Muhammad Hussain,” U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, December 9, 2010, 5, 10, http://s3.amazonaws.com/nytdocs/docs/536/536.pdf. In another conversation during that time, Martinez identified the Armed Forces Career Center in Catonsville, Maryland, as his intended target.“United States of America v. Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Muhammad Hussain,” U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, December 9, 2010, 4, 8, http://s3.amazonaws.com/nytdocs/docs/536/536.pdf.

In mid-November, Martinez began plotting the attack against the Armed Forces Career Center with the CHS and another FBI agent, referred to as the UC. The UC provided Martinez with an inert bomb, but told him that it was a functioning explosive.“United States of America v. Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Muhammad Hussain,” U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, December 9, 2010, 10, http://s3.amazonaws.com/nytdocs/docs/536/536.pdf. On December 8, 2010, Martinez parked an SUV carrying what he believed to be the working explosive outside of the Career Center. Martinez left the area with the CHS, and attempted to remotely detonate the device. Martinez was immediately arrested and charged with attempting to murder federal officers and employees, as well as attempting use of a weapon of mass destruction against property owned, leased or used by the United States.“United States of America v. Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Muhammad Hussain,” U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, December 9, 2010, 15, 18, http://s3.amazonaws.com/nytdocs/docs/536/536.pdf.

In January 2012, Martinez pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property.“Maryland Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center,” FBI, January 26, 2012, https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/baltimore/press-releases/2012/maryland-man-pleads-guilty-to-attempted-use-of-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction-in-plot-to-attack-armed-forces-recruiting-center. During Martinez’s detainment while on trial, jail guards uncovered a banner in Martinez’s cell that depicted crossed swords, an AK-47, and writing in Arabic.United States Attorney District of Maryland Northern Division, “Antonio Martinez banner seized in jail,” Baltimore Sun, April 2, 2012, http://www.documentcloud.org/documents/332132-antonio-martinez-banner-seized-in-jail.html. In April 2010, prosecutors sentenced him to 25 years in prison and an additional five years of supervised release.U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Maryland, “Maryland Man Sentenced to 25 Years In Prison For Attempted Use Of A Weapon Of Mass Destruction In Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center,” U.S. Department of Justice, April 6, 2012, https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/md/news/2012/MarylandManSentencedto25YearsinPrisonforAttemptedUseofaWeaponofMassDestruction.html.

Daniel Seth Franey is a U.S. citizen and alleged ISIS sympathizer from Washington. He pleaded guilty to illegally possessing machine guns and other firearms in July 2016,“Montesano man who supported ISIS, bin Laden, pleads guilty to illegal firearm possession,” Q13 Fox, July 12, 2016, http://q13fox.com/2016/07/12/montesano-man-who-supported-isis-bin-laden-pleads-guilty-to-illegal-firearm-possession-daniel-franey-abu-dawuud-292289/. and was sentenced to six years in prison in January 2017.Associated Press, “Man Accused of Supporting Islamic State Group Gets 6 Years,” ABC News, January 24, 2017, http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/man-accused-supporting-islamic-state-group-years-45000791. Franey—who praised Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) cleric Anwar al-Awlaki—told undercover FBI agents he desired to kill Americans, including U.S. military personnel. He openly supported ISIS over social media and in discussions with neighbors, and expressed to undercover FBI agents his desire to travel to Iraq and Syria to “join the fight,” according to the criminal complaint filed against him.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 5, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download;
Rick Anderson, “The FBI Suspected an Army Vet Was Plotting Attacks in the US – So They Gave Him Guns,” Vice News, March 15, 2016, https://news.vice.com/article/fbi-suspected-army-vet-daniel-seth-franey-plotting-attacks-the-us-so-they-gave-him-guns.

Franey reportedly served in the U.S. Army from 2002 to 2008 as an Enhanced Operator and Maintainer of Patriot Missile Launching Stations.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 4, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download. Prior to his 2016 arrest, Franey lived in western Washington for three years working as a commercial fisherman.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 4, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download. In May 2014, an Illinois court served Franey with a protective order following a domestic violence case with his ex-wife. The order prevented Franey from possessing a firearm in the United States.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 4-5, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download;
Rick Anderson, “The FBI Suspected an Army Vet Was Plotting Attacks in the US – So They Gave Him Guns,” Vice News, March 15, 2016, https://news.vice.com/article/fbi-suspected-army-vet-daniel-seth-franey-plotting-attacks-the-us-so-they-gave-him-guns.

In April 2015, Franey’s neighbor alerted the local sheriff as to conversations he had had with Franey. According to his neighbor, Franey regularly discussed his support for ISIS and said he would gladly give up his family to travel overseas to “join the fight” to kill Americans. Despite being legally barred from possessing firearms, Franey attempted to convince his neighbor to sell him an AK-47 machine gun.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 5, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download. On April 6, 2015, Franey reportedly instructed his neighbor to fly an ISIS flag outside his house, and warned that he would kill him if he did not support the terrorist group. Franey reportedly clenched his fists and advanced on his neighbor when he was asked to leave his house.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 5-6, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download.

Several other witnesses reported Franey to the authorities in 2015, according to the criminal complaint filed against him. Two witnesses said Franey told them he wished to “kill Marines because they are raping women and killing them,” and that he wished he “could get over there [Iraq and Syria].” In September 2015, Franey approached another witness and told him that “things were going to happen [soon],” and that he was going to behead police officers.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 6, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download.

Franey was approached by an undercover agent of Seattle’s FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force on July 2, 2015. According to the criminal complaint, the agent posed as a Christian interested in learning more about Islam.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 7, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download. In their first conversation, Franey was praised Osama bin Laden, calling him “a diamond,” “a holy warrior,” and “a beautiful man.”U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 8, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download.

The FBI agent told Franey that he was a black market gun dealer. Over the next several months, Franey accompanied the agent on multiple staged gun deliveries throughout Washington, where he conducted transactions with other undercover agents.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 12-30, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download;
Rick Anderson, “The FBI Suspected an Army Vet Was Plotting Attacks in the US – So They Gave Him Guns,” Vice News, March 15, 2016, https://news.vice.com/article/fbi-suspected-army-vet-daniel-seth-franey-plotting-attacks-the-us-so-they-gave-him-guns. Throughout these interactions, Franey repeatedly expressed his desire to kill U.S. military members.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 12-30, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download. The staged gun deliveries began in August 2015 and continued through November 2015.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 9-30, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download.

During a delivery trip in August 2015, Franey spoke of attacking the Lewis-McChord military base south of Seattle. He told the undercover agent that it was the obligation of Muslims in Seattle to “fight these soldiers until they stop fighting, until they’re dead, or until we’re dead.”U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 9, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download. He alerted the agent of an annual meeting for U.S. military members on the Washington coast, and proposed that he take over the meeting and “kill them all.”Rick Anderson, “The FBI Suspected an Army Vet Was Plotting Attacks in the US – So They Gave Him Guns,” Vice News, March 15, 2016, https://news.vice.com/article/fbi-suspected-army-vet-daniel-seth-franey-plotting-attacks-the-us-so-they-gave-him-guns. In September 2015, during a ride to another staged delivery, Franey referred to deceased AQAP cleric Anwar al-Awlaki as a “scholar” who “[spoke] the truth.”U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 14, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download.

The FBI continued to monitor Franey’s activity through January 2016. Franey made continuous efforts to convince the agent to sell him firearms, and expressed his desire to kill federal and local law enforcement and U.S. military personnel.U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington at Tacoma, “United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Daniel Seth Franey, Defendant,” U.S. Department of Justice, February 5, 2016, 30, https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/file/827046/download.

The FBI arrested Franey during a raid at his home in Montesano, Washington, on February 6, 2016. He was charged with five counts of unlawful possession of firearms for his participation in the undercover gun deliveries. Franey initially pled not guilty on March 7, 2016.Rick Anderson, “The FBI Suspected an Army Vet Was Plotting Attacks in the US – So They Gave Him Guns,” Vice News, March 15, 2016, https://news.vice.com/article/fbi-suspected-army-vet-daniel-seth-franey-plotting-attacks-the-us-so-they-gave-him-guns;
Mary Kay Mallonee, “Alleged ISIS sympathizer arrested in U.S.,” CNN, February 8, 2016, http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/08/politics/isis-sympathizer-arrested-in-washington/. On July 12, 2016, he pled guilty to illegally possessing machine guns and other firearms.“Montesano man who supported ISIS, bin Laden, pleads guilty to illegal firearm possession,” Q13 Fox, July 12, 2016, http://q13fox.com/2016/07/12/montesano-man-who-supported-isis-bin-laden-pleads-guilty-to-illegal-firearm-possession-daniel-franey-abu-dawuud-292289/. He was sentenced to six years in prison in January 2017.Associated Press, “Man Accused of Supporting Islamic State Group Gets 6 Years,” ABC News, January 24, 2017, http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/man-accused-supporting-islamic-state-group-years-45000791. He is currently incarcerated at Residential Reentry Management Seattle in Washington, with a scheduled release date of June 17, 2021.“DANIEL SETH FRANEY,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed March 23, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/.

Emanuel L. Lutchman is a U.S. citizen and convert to Islam who in August 2016 pled guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS.“Lutchman pleads guilty to ISIS plot on local bar,” WHAM, August 11, 2016, http://13wham.com/news/isis-plot-arrest/lutchman-pleads-guilty-to-isis-plot-on-local-bar. Lutchman reportedly plotted to attack a restaurant in Rochester, New York, on December 31, 2015, as diners celebrated the New Year. On December 30, the day of his arrest, Lutchman filmed a video in which he pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.Julia Glum, “Who Is Emanuel Lutchman? Islamic State New Year’s Eve New York Attack Planned By Muslim Convert,” International Business Times, December 31, 2015, http://www.ibtimes.com/who-emanuel-lutchman-islamic-state-new-years-eve-new-york-attack-planned-muslim-2245914. Lutchman had previously praised deceased al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) cleric Anwar al-Awlaki on social media.Emanuel Lutchman, Google Plus Account, accessed June 28, 2016, https://plus.google.com/wm/2/se/1/109591227310493964421/posts/YXKueFjG5Fi.

Lutchman—who had been in contact with two undercover FBI officers and an alleged overseas ISIS militant since November 2015U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, “United States of America v. Emanuel Lutchman,” U.S. Department of Justice, December 30, 2015, 3, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/809371/download.—originally planned to construct a pressure cooker bomb for use at the restaurant. He ultimately decided to use smaller weaponry due to funding constraints.Benjamin Mueller, “Rochester Man Charged With Planning Attack on Behalf of ISIS,” New York Times, December 31, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/01/nyregion/rochester-man-charged-with-planning-attack-on-behalf-of-isis.html.

In December 2015, Lutchman told the overseas militant that he hated living in America among the “kuffar,” or nonbelievers, according to the criminal complaint filed against him.U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, “United States of America v. Emanuel Lutchman,” U.S. Department of Justice, December 30, 2015, 4, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/809371/download. In turn, the militant described living in ISIS-controlled territory as a “dream come true,” and urged Lutchman to plan an attack on U.S. soil. Lutchman—who had previously served a five year sentence for robbery—said that he feared arrest and reimprisonment.U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, “United States of America v. Emanuel Lutchman,” U.S. Department of Justice, December 30, 2015, 5, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/809371/download.

Despite his reservations, Lutchman told the ISIS operative that he was beginning to “organize [people] to do operation for the sake of Allaah [sic],” according to the criminal complaint. The operative urged Lutchman to plan an attack on New Year’s Eve and to kill as many people as possible, assuring him that he would not be imprisoned. The operative told Lutchman that he should carry a weapon and “kill them all.”U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, “United States of America v. Emanuel Lutchman,” U.S. Department of Justice, December 30, 2015, 5-6, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/809371/download.

In preparation for the attack, Lutchman allegedly purchased knives, ski masks, zip ties, ammonia, latex gloves, and a machete.Benjamin Mueller, “Rochester Man Charged With Planning Attack on Behalf of ISIS,” New York Times, December 31, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/01/nyregion/rochester-man-charged-with-planning-attack-on-behalf-of-isis.html. He allegedly planned to kidnap some of the restaurant patrons before killing them, according to the criminal complaint.U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, “United States of America v. Emanuel Lutchman,” U.S. Department of Justice, December 30, 2015, 8, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/809371/download.

On December 29, 2015, Lutchman purchased the final supplies needed to carry out the attack. He was arrested by Rochester’s Joint Terrorism Task Force the next day as he sat in a vehicle with an FBI informant.Benjamin Mueller, “Rochester Man Charged With Planning Attack on Behalf of ISIS,” New York Times, December 31, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/01/nyregion/rochester-man-charged-with-planning-attack-on-behalf-of-isis.html. During his hearing at the Rochester Federal Court on June 16, 2016, Lutchman was forcibly removed from the courtroom after he refused to stand for the judge.Gary Craig, “Accused terrorist forcibly removed from court,” USA Today, June 16, 2016, http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2016/06/16/alleged-isis-sympathizer-returns-court/85862256/. On August 11, 2016, Lutchman pled guilty to the charge of attempting to provide material support to ISIS.“Lutchman pleads guilty to ISIS plot on local bar,” WHAM, August 11, 2016, http://13wham.com/news/isis-plot-arrest/lutchman-pleads-guilty-to-isis-plot-on-local-bar. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 50 years post-supervision on January 26, 2017. During his sentencing, Lutchman reportedly denounced ISIS—though screamed “there will be more blood” as he exited the court room.“Rochester Man Sentenced for Plotting 2015 New Year's Eve Terror Attack,” TWC Rochester, January 26, 2017, http://www.twcnews.com/nys/rochester/crime/2017/01/26/emanuel-lutchman-rochester-terror-attack-sentencing.html.

Lutchman’s purported YouTube and Google+ accounts contain swathes of extremist propaganda and rhetoric. Before his arrest, Lutchman linked to numerous videos of Anwar al-Awlaki, the deceased AQAP cleric whose lectures and propaganda have continued to inspire domestic terror attacks.Peter Bergen, “The American who inspires terror from Paris to the U.S.,” CNN, January 12, 2015, http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/11/opinion/bergen-american-terrorism-leader-paris-attack/.

As of August 2016, the most recent video added to Lutchman’s “like” list on YouTube is entitled “NEW: Anwar Al Awlaki - A True Leader.”Emanuel Lutchman YouTube page, accessed August 12, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHg7IpvGJR3ozGqBXnnLRTA/videos?view=15&live_view=500&flow=grid&sort=dd. His purported Google+ account also contains references to al-Awlaki. On December 30, 2015, the day he was arrested, Lutchman shared an al-Awlaki-related video and wrote, “My shaykh I love him so much for the sake of Allah only.”Emanuel Lutchman GooglePlus post, December 30, 2015, https://plus.google.com/109591227310493964421/posts/C8hoKLd5LdP.

Screenshot from Lutchman’s purported Google+ account, in which he praises AQAP cleric Anwar al-Awlaki

Ali Muhammad Brown is an American Islamic extremist responsible for four 2014 murders that he claimed were to take “vengeance” against U.S. policy in the Middle East.Sara Jean Green, “Seattle man on ‘jihad’ pleads guilty to murder in New Jersey, admits to 3 other homicides in King County,” Seattle Times, March 7, 2018, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/seattle-man-on-jihad-pleads-guilty-to-murder-in-new-jersey-admits-to-3-other-homicides-in-king-county/; “COPS: Self-styled jihadist admits to killing 4 people, calls it ‘vengeance’ for U.S. actions in Mideast,” Q13 Fox, August 20, 2014, http://q13fox.com/2014/08/20/police-man-admits-to-4-murders-calls-them-vengeance-for-u-s-actions-in-mideast/. Prior to the murders, Brown wrote in his journal that he intended to “follow” ISIS and “learn proper ways of jihadi training.”Ben Finley, “Prosecutor: Seattle man charged with killing 4 was on terrorism watch list,” Seattle Times, January 20, 2016, www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/hearing-set-for-seattle-man-charged-in-nj-murder-terrorism-case/. Brown is also believed to have supplied funds to the Somali-based terror group al-Shabaab, and was on a federal terrorism watch list.Chris Ingalls, “Seattle murder suspect tied to former terrorism ring,” King 5 News, August 20, 2014, https://web.archive.org/web/20141216023957/http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2014/08/20/shumpert-ali-muhammad-brown/14361609. In November of 2016 he was sentenced to 36 ½ years in prison for armed robbery and weapons charges,Bill Wichert, “Accused Brendan Tevlin killer gets lengthy prison term in armed robbery,” NJ.com, January 20, 2016, www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/accused_brendan_tevlin_killer_gets_lengthy_prison.html. and in April 2018 he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for murder. Both convictions were in New Jersey.David Porter, “Former Seattle Man Who Admitted 3 Killings Here is Sentenced to Life Without Parole for N.J. Murder,” Seattle Times, May 1, 2018, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/former-seattle-resident-on-jihad-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-for-murder/. Brown was later extradited to Washington, where he faces three further counts of murder.Sara Jean Green, “Man Accused in 2014 ‘Jihad’ Killing Spree Brought Back to Seattle to Face 3 Aggravated Murder Charges,” Seattle Times, October 31, 2019, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/man-accused-in-2014-killing-spree-brought-back-to-seattle-to-face-3-aggravated-murder-charges/. On September 9, 2022, Brown was sentenced to an additional 93 years in prison for three counts of premeditated first-degree murder.Sara Jean Green, “Man already serving life in New Jersey sentenced to 93 years for killing 3 Seattle-area men in 2014,” Seattle Times, September 10, 2022, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/man-already-serving-life-in-new-jersey-sentenced-to-93-years-for-killing-3-seattle-area-men-in-2014/.

Brown was born in the United States in the mid-1980s. At the time of his first killing, he lived in Seattle, Washington, though news reports characterized Brown as “homeless” or “transient.”Ashley Fantz, Pamela Brown and Aaron Cooper, “Police: Seattle man’s hatred of U.S. foreign policy motivated killings,” CNN, September 16, 2014, www.cnn.com/2014/09/16/justice/ali-brown-charges-killing-spree/; Nicole Hensley, “Seattle fugitive suspected of killing two gay men nabbed in New Jersey,” New York Daily News, July 19, 2014, www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/man-sought-seattle-gay-hate-crime-murders-nabbed-new-jersey-article-1.1873190.

Between January 2002 and November 2004, Brown and three other men allegedly committed check fraud in order to fund al-Shabaab. The men deposited fake checks to numerous banks, including Bank of America and Wells Fargo, and withdrew funds before the checks bounced. Christine Clarridge, “Defendant calls four slayings justified, charging papers say,” Seattle Times, August 21, 2014, www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/defendant-calls-four-slayings-justified-charging-papers-say/. Brown was convicted on bank fraud charges, but federal agents were unable to prove the funds ultimately supported terrorism. Ruben Shumpert, the leader of the ring, was absent at his 2006 federal sentencing and is believed to have been killed while fighting for al-Shabaab.Chris Ingalls, “Seattle murder suspect tied to former terrorism ring,” King 5 News, August 20, 2014, https://web.archive.org/web/20141216023957/http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2014/08/20/shumpert-ali-muhammad-brown/14361609. In 2008, Brown was convicted on charges of assault.Christine Clarridge, “Defendant calls four slayings justified, charging papers say,” Seattle Times, August 21, 2014, www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/defendant-calls-four-slayings-justified-charging-papers-say/. In 2012, he was convicted on charges of communication with a minor for immoral purposes and was sentenced to a year in prison.Bill Wichert, “Accused Brendan Tevlin killer gets lengthy prison term in armed robbery,” NJ.com, January 20, 2016, www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/accused_brendan_tevlin_killer_gets_lengthy_prison.html.

In April 2014, Brown drove up behind a pedestrian named Leroy Henderson in Skyway, Washington, and shot him 10 times in the back. The two men did not know each other.John K. Pavlovich, “Certification for Determination of Probable Cause,” King County Sherriff’s Office, August 18, 2014, 1, documents.latimes.com/ali-muhammad-brown-says-he-killed-four-men-gain-vengeance-against-us/; “COPS: Self-styled jihadist admits to killing 4 people, calls it ‘vengeance’ for U.S. actions in Mideast,” Q13 Fox, August 20, 2014, q13fox.com/2014/08/20/police-man-admits-to-4-murders-calls-them-vengeance-for-u-s-actions-in-mideast/. On June 1, 2014, Brown, utilizing a dating app, met two gay men, Dwone Anderson-Young and Ahmed Said, at a Seattle gay club.Nicole Hensley, “Seattle fugitive suspected of killing two gay men nabbed in New Jersey,” New York Daily News, July 19, 2014, www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/man-sought-seattle-gay-hate-crime-murders-nabbed-new-jersey-article-1.1873190. The three men returned to the home of one of the victims, and, according to a police report, Brown “executed” them in the street. Later in June, in West Orange, New Jersey, Brown and two suspected co-conspirators drove up next to a car operated by Brendan Tevlin at a traffic light. Brown exited the car and shot Tevlin—whom he did not know—eight times at close range.John K. Pavlovich, “Certification for Determination of Probable Cause,” King County Sherriff’s Office, August 18, 2014, 9, documents.latimes.com/ali-muhammad-brown-says-he-killed-four-men-gain-vengeance-against-us/. Brown made use of fake IDs, camouflage, and disguises to evade the police for nearly a month following the final killing.Bill Wichert, “Accused Brendan Tevlin killer gets lengthy prison term in armed robbery,” NJ.com, January 20, 2016, www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/accused_brendan_tevlin_killer_gets_lengthy_prison.html.

As revealed in police interviews after the murders, in spring 2014 Brown felt compelled to act against the United States as vengeance for civilians, particularly children, whom Brown claimed were being killed by the U.S. government in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran. As Brown later said in a police interview, “[if] a man sees evil then he must take action against that evil.” Brown further admitted in his interview that he sought out adult males unaccompanied by females, children, or the elderly. He referred to these men as “just kills.”John K. Pavlovich, “Certification for Determination of Probable Cause,” King County Sherriff’s Office, August 18, 2014, 6, documents.latimes.com/ali-muhammad-brown-says-he-killed-four-men-gain-vengeance-against-us/.

Following the final murder, Brown robbed two New Jersey men in separate incidents on June 29 and July 10.David Rose, “Double murder suspect wanted in Seattle, Ali Muhammad Brown, arrested in New Jersey,” Q13 Fox, July 18, 2014, q13fox.com/2014/07/18/ali-muhammed-brown-seattle-police-searching-for-double-murder-suspect/; Bill Wichert, “Accused Brendan Tevlin killer gets lengthy prison term in armed robbery,” NJ.com, January 20, 2016, www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2016/01/accused_brendan_tevlin_killer_gets_lengthy_prison.html. On July 18, police discovered Brown hiding in the woods in a makeshift shelter in West Orange, New Jersey, only a couple hundred yards from the site of the July 10 robbery.Eric Kiefer, “Accused ‘Terrorist’ Convicted Of Armed Robbery In N.J.,” Montclair Patch, November 18, 2015, patch.com/new-jersey/montclair/accused-terrorist-convicted-armed-robbery-nj-0.

In late July 2014, the state of New Jersey charged Brown with first-degree murder and first-degree robbery, among others.Eric Kiefer, “Slaying Suspect Maintains Innocence for Unrelated Robbery Charge,” Livingston Patch, March 23, 2015, patch.com/new-jersey/livingston/slaying-suspect-maintains-innocence-unrelated-robbery-charge-0. The state of Washington later charged Brown on three counts of first-degree aggravated murder in August 2014.“NJ student’s accused killer also charged with 3 murders in Wash.,” CBS News, August 21, 2014, www.cbsnews.com/news/new-jersey-students-accused-killer-also-charged-with-three-murders-in-washington/;
Liam Stack, “Man Accused in Killing Is Indicted on Terrorism Charges, a First for New Jersey,” New York Times, July 2, 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/07/03/nyregion/man-accused-in-killing-is-indicted-on-terrorism-charges-a-first-for-new-jersey.html?_r=0. In July 2015, Brown was indicted on terrorism charges in New Jersey—making it the first time New Jersey prosecutors used terrorism charges against a defendant in a murder case. Liam Stack, “Man Accused in Killing Is Indicted on Terrorism Charges, a First for New Jersey,” New York Times, July 2, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/03/nyregion/man-accused-in-killing-is-indicted-on-terrorism-charges-a-first-for-new-jersey.html?_r=0.

In August 2015, Brown pleaded “not guilty” to all charges in New Jersey.Bill Witchert, “Brendan Tevlin executed for being an American, mother says,” NJ.com, August 4, 2015, www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/08/brendan_tevlin_executed_for_being_an_american_moth.html#incart_river. In January 2016, a New Jersey court sentenced Brown to 36 ½ years in prison for robbery and weapons charges. On March 6, 2018, Brown  pleaded guilty to Tevlin’s murder  and to the murder of the three men in Seattle.Thomas Moriarty, “Terror-inspired killer admits gunning down Brendan Tevlin, 3 others,” Seattle Times, March 6, 2018, http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2018/03/ali_muhammad_brown_pleads_guilty_in_brendan_tevlin.html. On April 24, 2018, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in New Jersey. At sentencing, Judge Ronald Wigler called Brown’s killing of Tevlin “one of the most heinous, horrific, brutal crimes” he had witnessed in eight years on the bench.David Porter, “Former Seattle Man Who Admitted 3 Killings Here is Sentenced to Life Without Parole for N.J. Murder,” Seattle Times, May 1, 2018, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/former-seattle-resident-on-jihad-sentenced-to-life-without-parole-for-murder/.

On October 30, 2019, Brown was extradited to Washington and booked into King’s County jail, following an executive agreement between the governors of New Jersey and Washington. He faces three charges of aggravated first-degree murder.Sara Jean Green, “Man Accused in 2014 ‘Jihad’ Killing Spree Brought Back to Seattle to Face 3 Aggravated Murder Charges,” Seattle Times, October 31, 2019, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/man-accused-in-2014-killing-spree-brought-back-to-seattle-to-face-3-aggravated-murder-charges/. On November 13, 2019, he pleaded not guilty to all three counts. Once his Washington case is adjudicated, he will be returned to New Jersey to serve his life sentence there.Sara Jean Green, “Man Accused in 2014 ‘Jihad’ Killing Spree Enters Not-Guilty Pleas to 3 Counts of Aggravated First-Degree Murder,” Seattle Times, November 13, 2019, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/man-accused-in-2014-jihad-killing-spree-enters-not-guilty-pleas-to-3-counts-of-aggravated-first-degree-murder/.

A few years later on September 9, 2022, Brown appeared at King County Superior Court in Seattle where he was sentenced to 93 years in prison for three counts of premeditated first-degree murder. Brown will be returned to New Jersey to finish out his sentence.Sara Jean Green, “Man already serving life in New Jersey sentenced to 93 years for killing 3 Seattle-area men in 2014,” Seattle Times, September 10, 2022, https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/man-already-serving-life-in-new-jersey-sentenced-to-93-years-for-killing-3-seattle-area-men-in-2014/.

On December 14, 2015, the FBI arrested then-30-year-old Mohamed Yousef Elshinawy at his home in Edgewood, Maryland.Alan Goldman, “Maryland man accused of receiving $9,000 from ISIS to carry out attack on American soil,” Washington Post, December 14, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/maryland-man-charged-with-supporting-the-islamic-state/2015/12/14/1d8eafb2-a277-11e5-ad3f-991ce3374e23_story.html. Elshinawy was charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, obstruction of agency proceedings, and making material false statements and falsifying or concealing material facts.Alan Goldman, “Maryland man accused of receiving $9,000 from ISIS to carry out attack on American soil,” Washington Post, December 14, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/maryland-man-charged-with-supporting-the-islamic-state/2015/12/14/1d8eafb2-a277-11e5-ad3f-991ce3374e23_story.html. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MOHAMED ELSHINAWY – JUDGEMENT IN A CRIMINAL CASE,” United States District Court – District of Maryland, April 2, 2018, https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/Mohamed%20Elshinawy%20Judgment.pdf, 2-3.

Elshinawy was taken into custody after he allegedly received thousands of dollars from ISIS operatives. ISIS militants reportedly instructed Elshinawy to commit an attack similar to the thwarted May 2015 attack at the “Draw Muhammad” contest in Garland, Texas. Elshinawy had allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS and desired to die as a martyr.Alan Goldman, “Maryland man accused of receiving $9,000 from ISIS to carry out attack on American soil,” Washington Post, December 14, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/maryland-man-charged-with-supporting-the-islamic-state/2015/12/14/1d8eafb2-a277-11e5-ad3f-991ce3374e23_story.html.

Elshinawy received money from ISIS operatives via both PayPal and Western Union. He received at least $8,700 between March and June 2015, and used a portion of this money to purchase a laptop computer, a cell phone, calling cards, Internet hotspot access, and a private VPN network. The cell phones, laptops, and Internet access purchases were allegedly used to communicate with ISIS militants overseas.“United States of America v. Mohamed Elshinawy,” United States District Court for the District of Maryland, December 11, 2015, 12, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/798901/download.

Elshinawy has denied any plan to attack the United States, insisting that he only wanted to take money from ISIS, who he called “thieves.”Alan Goldman, “Maryland man accused of receiving $9,000 from ISIS to carry out attack on American soil,” Washington Post, December 14, 2015, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/maryland-man-charged-with-supporting-the-islamic-state/2015/12/14/1d8eafb2-a277-11e5-ad3f-991ce3374e23_story.html.

Monitored communications between Elshinawy and an unnamed childhood friend revealed that Elshinawy was allegedly planning to join his friend overseas and fight for ISIS. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Elshinawy had instructed his friend to listen to the “lessons of [Abu Mohammed] al-Adnani,” ISIS’s official spokesman.“United States of America v. Mohamed Elshinawy,” United States District Court for the District of Maryland, December 11, 2015, 13, http://www.justice.gov/opa/file/798901/download.

On August 15, 2017, Elshinawy pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, collection of terrorist financing, and making false statements in a terrorism matter.Lynh Bui, “Md. Man Pleads Guilty to Accepting Nearly $9,000 to Help Carry Out U.S. Terrorist Attack,” Washington Post, August 15, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/md-man-pleads-guilty-to-accepting-nearly-9000-to-help-carry-out-us-terror-attack/2017/08/15/88fb2dc8-81fc-11e7-ab27-1a21a8e006ab_story.html. On March 30, 2018, he was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, followed by 15 years of post-release supervision.“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. MOHAMED ELSHINAWY – JUDGEMENT IN A CRIMINAL CASE,” United States District Court – District of Maryland, April 2, 2018, https://extremism.gwu.edu/sites/g/files/zaxdzs2191/f/Mohamed%20Elshinawy%20Judgment.pdf, 2-3. Elshinawy is currently incarcerated at Petersburg Medium Federal Correctional Institution, in Hopewell, Virginia, with a scheduled release date of December 25, 2032.“MOHAMED ELSHINAWY,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed April 15, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/.

Alexander E. Blair is an American citizen and alleged accessory to terrorism. He was arrested on April 10, 2015, and charged with failing to report a felony. Blair reportedly knew that John T. Booker, arrested earlier the same day, was planning an attack on the U.S. Army base in Fort Riley, Kansas. Booker had reportedly wanted to “kill as many soldiers as possible,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.“United States of America v. Alexander E. Blair,” United States District Court for the District of Kansas, April 10, 2015, 3, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Blair%20Criminal%20Complaint.pdf; “Second Man Charged in Plot to Bomb Kansas Army Base for ISIS,” NBC News, April 10, 2015, http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/second-man-charged-plot-bomb-kansas-army-base-n339701.

Booker tried to detonate what he thought was a bomb at Fort Riley on the morning of April 10, 2015. The bomb was non-explosive and had been provided by an FBI informant. Booker was arrested at the scene and charged with planning to carry out a suicide bombing.“Kansas Man John Booker Indicted in ISIS-Inspired Bomb Plot Against Fort Riley,” NBC News, April 16, 2015, http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/john-t-booker-jr-indicted-isis-inspired-bomb-plot-n343231.

Blair was arrested later that day.Steve Fry, “Second man alleged to know about plan to detonate WMD at Fort Riley placed on house arrest,” Topeka Capital-Journal, April 16, 2015, http://cjonline.com/news/2015-04-16/second-man-alleged-know-about-plan-detonate-wmd-fort-riley-placed-house-arrest. He admitted to knowing of Booker’s plan to detonate a bomb at the army base, and knew Booker believed he was acting on behalf of ISIS. Blair had allegedly loaned Booker money to rent a storage unit, and knew the unit would be used to store explosive materials and to construct a bomb. He also told agents he believed Booker would carry out the attack, but that he chose not to alert authorities to Booker’s actions. Blair reportedly shared Booker’s “extremist views concerning Jihad against the United States military,” according to criminal complaint filed against Blair.“United States of America v. Alexander E. Blair,” United States District Court for the District of Kansas, April 10, 2015, 3, https://cchs.gwu.edu/sites/cchs.gwu.edu/files/downloads/Blair%20Criminal%20Complaint.pdf. The two men had reportedly met at a Topeka mosque in January 2015.Melissa Hellmann, “Kansas man pleads guilty to aiding foiled bomb plot,” Associated Press, May 23, 2016, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/88b7ca90a3a7464cad2c82a4fcb3d17a/change-plea-hearing-set-kansas-bomb-plot-case.

Following his April 2015 arrest, Blair initially pled not guilty. In early May 2016, however, Blair filed a request to plead guilty, stating the government had gathered enough information to convict him.“Topeka man plans to plead guilty in Fort Riley bomb case,” Boston Herald, May 5, 2016, http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/2016/05/topeka_man_plans_to_plead_guilty_in_fort_riley_bomb_case. He pled guilty on May 23, 2016.Associated Press, “Man pleads guilty to aiding foiled bomb plot,” ABC News, May 23, 2016, http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/change-plea-hearing-set-kansas-bomb-plot-case-39298049.

American citizen Adel Daoud was the subject of an undercover FBI operation in 2012. The then-18-year-old was arrested in Chicago, Illinois, in September 2012 on charges of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to damage and destroy a building by means of an explosive.“United States v. Adel Daoud,” United States District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, September 15, 2012, 0, http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/iln/chicago/2012/pr0915_01a.pdf.

During months of online communication with undercover FBI officers, Daoud expressed his desire to kill Americans, and reportedly created a list of targets including bars, malls, and military recruitment centers.“United States v. Adel Daoud,” United States District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, September 15, 2012, 19, http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/iln/chicago/2012/pr0915_01a.pdf. He plotted to detonate a bomb inside of a car that would be parked in front of a Chicago bar.“Suspected Terrorist Accused of Trying to Kill Fellow Inmate in Chicago,” ABC Chicago, August 18, 2015, http://abc7chicago.com/news/suspected-terrorist-accused-of-trying-to-kill-fellow-inmate/942757/. On September 15, 2012, Daoud and the undercover agent met at a park and traveled to a parking garage where the agent had parked a Jeep laden with fake explosives. Daoud reportedly parked the Jeep in front of the chosen bar, walked one block away, and pressed the button he believed would detonate the vehicle. He was arrested at the scene.“United States v. Adel Daoud,” United States District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, September 15, 2012, 6, http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/iln/chicago/2012/pr0915_01a.pdf.

Before his arrest, Daoud read, watched, and circulated jihadist content online.“United States v. Adel Daoud,” United States District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, September 15, 2012, 7, http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/iln/chicago/2012/pr0915_01a.pdf. He was particularly interested in the work of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)’s Anwar al-Awlaki, who the U.S. killed in a drone strike in Yemen in 2011. Authorities later found al-Awlaki’s videos on Daoud’s personal computer.“United States v. Adel Daoud,” United States District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, September 15, 2012, 9, http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/iln/chicago/2012/pr0915_01a.pdf.

In online conversations with undercover agents, Daoud made a variety of inflammatory and threatening remarks.“United States v. Adel Daoud,” United States District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, September 15, 2012, 16, http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/iln/chicago/2012/pr0915_01a.pdf. He expressed his desire to kill as many Americans as possible in a terrorist attack, as well as his goal to “brainwash” fellow Muslims into committing similar acts.“United States v. Adel Daoud,” United States District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, September 15, 2012, 11, http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/iln/chicago/2012/pr0915_01a.pdf. He defended the actions of Osama bin Laden, and mentioned how much he loved “killing kuffar” (nonbelievers).“United States v. Adel Daoud,” United States District Court Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, September 15, 2012, 14, http://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/iln/chicago/2012/pr0915_01a.pdf.

Daoud was deemed mentally fit to stand trial. In 2013, while in jail awaiting trial, Daoud was charged in a separate indictment after he allegedly tried to solicit the murder of the undercover FBI agent with whom he had been unwittingly planning a terror attack. Daoud wanted to prevent the agent from testifying against him at trial.Jason Meisner, “Feds: Teen arrested in bar bombing plot solicited murder of FBI agent,” Chicago Tribune, August 30, 2015, http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-08-30/news/chi-federal-judge-rules-against-teen-terrorist-suspect-20130829_1_undercover-fbi-agent-fbi-analysts-adel-daoud. In August 2015, Daoud stabbed a fellow inmate with a homemade shank after the inmate showed Daoud a drawing he had made of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Daoud was charged with assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, assault resulting in serious bodily injury, and possession of an object intended to be used as a weapon in prison.Jason Meisner, “Loop car bomb plot suspect accused of attempted murder of fellow inmate,” Chicago Tribune, August 18, 2015, http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-adel-daoud-new-charges-20150818-story.html.

Though Daoud was initially found fit to stand trial, people close to him had questioned his mental capacities. His mother, Mona, said in an October 2012 interview that “[Adel’s] not the person with a complete mind. He didn’t talk until five. He was the last one of my kids to talk. He doesn’t even talk Arabic….like the rest of our family, because he’s slow.”“ILLUSION OF JUSTICE: Human Rights Abuses in US Terrorism Prosecutions,” Human Rights Institute, Colombia Law School, 2014, https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/usterrorism0714_ForUpload_0_0_0.pdf.

In December 2015, Daoud’s trial was postponed due to questions surrounding his mental health. In January 2016, a Chicago judge ordered that Daoud receive mental examinations. Daoud had reportedly spoken in court “about a Freemason’s conspiracy against him.”“Judge blasts repeated delays in jailed man’s terrorism trial,” Associated Press, February 24, 2016, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/78e95a7e3a9b4de6952f084605ce1ff2/judge-blasts-repeated-delays-jailed-mans-terrorism-trial.

On November 26, 2018, Daoud pleaded guilty to terrorism charges, soliciting the murder of an FBI agent, and “attacking a fellow inmate with a jailhouse shank.” Daoud’s lawyers pursued an “Alford plea,” in which defendants plead guilty but do not concede wrongdoing. His attorney stated that the guilty plea was necessary because “the stress of going through a trial would only exacerbate his client’s mental health issues.”Jason Meisner, “Suburban Man Enters Unusual Guilty Plea to Terrorism Bomb Plot at Busy Loop Bar,” Chicago Tribune, November 16, 2018, https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-chicago-terrorist-guilty-plea-20181123-story.html. On May 6, 2019, Daoud was sentenced to 16 years in prison, seven of which he already served prior to sentencing. Following release, he will face 45 years of court supervision.Chuck Goudie and Barb Markoff, “Adel Daoud Sentenced in Chicago Terror Case After 7 Years Waiting Behind Bars,” ABC 7 Chicago, May 6, 2019, https://abc7chicago.com/adel-daoud-sentencing-sentence-chicago/5286938/.

In November 2020, a federal appeals court overturned Daoud’s sentence. The ruling held that his 16-year sentence was too lenient, and that the original judge’s ruling “sterilized Daoud’s offense conduct in ways that cannot be reconciled” with the heinous nature of his crime.Jason Meisner, “Appeals Court Vacates 16-Year Sentence in Loop Bar Terror Plot, Says Judge Paid Only ‘Lip Service’ to Seriousness of Adel Daoud’s Crimes,” Chicago Tribune, November 18, 2020, https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-adel-daoud-terrorism-bomb-plot-appeal-20201118-iitxucuqe5e63mf24jzmgxrqf4-story.html. The appellate court then sent the case back to the district court for resentencing, where it is still pending.Jon Seidel, “16 Years Not Enough for Man Who Tried to Set Off Car Bomb in Loop, U.S. Appeals Court Says,” Chicago Sun Times, November 17, 2020, https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/11/17/21572430/16-years-prison-not-enough-man-tried-set-off-car-bomb-loop-appeals-court-says.