Posted on 07/21/2010 3:42:49 PM PDT by Cindy
NOTE The following text is a quote:
Virginia Man Accused of Providing Material Support to Terrorists
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Zachary Adam Chesser, 20, of Fairfax County, Va., was arrested today on charges that he provided material support to al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Shawn Henry, Assistant Director in Charge (ADIC) of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after Chesser was arrested and the charging documents were made public.
“This case exposes the disturbing reality that extreme radicalization can happen anywhere, including Northern Virginia,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “This young man is accused of seeking to join al Shabaab, a brutal terrorist organization with ties to al Qaeda. These allegations underscore the need for continued vigilance against homegrown terror threats.”
“We can't fight terrorists alone,” said FBI ADIC Henry. “Religious leaders of all faiths, family members and particularly the younger members of our communities need to speak up and speak out against individuals who participate in actions like those alleged here.”
On Feb. 29, 2008, the U.S. Department of State designated al Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization, describing it as a violent and brutal extremist group based in Somalia with a number of individuals affiliated with al Qaeda. This designation prohibits providing material support or resources to al Shabaab.
According to an affidavit filed in court, Chesser, aka Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee, volunteered to federal agents that he attempted on two occasions to travel to Somalia to join al Shabaab as a foreign fighter. After he was prevented from boarding a flight from New York to Uganda on July 10, 2010, Chesser allegedly admitted to agents that he intended to travel from Uganda to Somalia. Chesser had attempted to board the plane with his infant son, and court records allege that he brought his son with him as part of his “cover” to avoid detection of his intention to join al Shabaab in Somalia.
The court affidavit indicates that in a series of interviews with federal law enforcement, Chesser allegedly discussed in detail how he has maintained several online profiles dedicated to extremist jihad propaganda. These profiles were allegedly used by Chesser to post pro-jihad messages and videos online. These postings allegedly included an article detailing the prerequisites involved in leaving for jihad, which closely follows the steps Chesser took before his July 10 attempt to leave the United States in order to go fight in Somalia.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon Kromberg of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the Justice Department’s National Security Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
Criminal complaints are only charges and not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty.
http://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/interview-with-abu-tale1b8a5ah-al-amriki.pdf
“Interview with Abu Talhah al-Amriki” -Conducted by Aaron Y. Zelin
http://jarretbrachman.net/?cat=4
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http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=764
“Blog ‘Buddy’ Abu Talhah al-Amrikee Gets Nabbed”
SNIPPET: “One of my best jihadist interlocutors, Abu Talhah al-Amrikee, got bagged this week for alleged desire to go join al-Shabab. As followers of my blog will know, he and I had vigorous backs and forths on the blog but what you may or may not know is that he and I had been holding a series of private discussions as well. I won’t make those public (yet) given that this is rapidly unfolding.
I will, however, copy/paste an excerpt from the article that Abu Talhah recently penned where he takes aim at several CT analysts, including me. Here’s what he wrote in “Counter Counter Terrorism: Fomenting Disunity In the Counterterrorism Movement.””
http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006922.html
25 July 2010
“ZACH CHESSER: SUPER GENIUS”
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http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006921.html
25 July 2010
“JARRET BRACHMAN’S ‘ABU TALHA AL-AMRIKEE FESTIVAL’”
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http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=764
http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=772
http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=775
http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=778
http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=780
http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=784
http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=786
http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006920.html
25 July 2010
“AT-TAHADI NOTES ARREST OF ZACH CHESSER - PRAYERS ARE OFFERED”
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Quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2554907/posts
Top Ten Jihadi Forums, 19 July 2010
INTERNET-HAGANAH.com ^ | July 19, 2010 | n/a
Posted on July 18, 2010 2:59:25 PM PDT by Cindy
18 July 2010 “TOP TEN JIHADI FORUMS, 19 JULY 2010”
(Excerpt) Read more at internet-haganah.com ...
ON THE INTERNET:
http://internet-haganah.com/harchives/006926.html
http://s88179113.onlinehome.us/2010-07-26/zach_meets_fisa.gif
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2556065/posts
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Note: Photos included.
http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/203400.php
July 28, 2010
“Revolution Muslim Conference: Convicted Terrorist to Speak on Conquest of Washington, D.C. (UPDATED - Zach w/ Younes Pic)”
SNIPPET: “UPDATE: Here’s a screenshot of Jesse “Younes Abdullah Mohammad” Morton in front of the White House with his friend Zachary “ZZ Top” Chesser. That’s him on the left.
Make sure to read the sign and try not to laugh.
In addition to being bosom buddies with Zach Chesser, now awaiting trial for providing material support to terrorists, I’ll remind you that Jesse also wrote an article for Samir Khan’s first attempt at a magazine promoting terrorism. One wonders if Samir called on his old buddy to help him his official al Qaeda version of it?
Is it just me, or does Jesse like to hang out with terrorists?
UPDATE: Oh, I almost forgot about this. ADL:
Abdullah Muhammad has appeared in several RM and Islamic Thinkers Society (ITS) events with Mohamed Mahmood Alessa and Carlos Eduardo Almonte, two New Jersey men who have been arrested on terror-related charges. In RM’s video of the its protest at the 2010 Israel Day Parade in New York, Alessa is seen standing next to Abdullah Muhammad while he reads RM’s condemnation of Israel. In another instance, on December 28, 2008, Abdullah Muhammad and Almonte appeared together at an ITS protest outside the Israeli consulate in New York. Standing next to Abdullah Muhammad, Almonte held a sign that read “Death to all (zionist) juice.”
Img src: Red Squirrel
By Rusty Shackleford, Ph.D. at July 28, 2010 03:11 PM”
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdtyZ4uxu5g
“CRONUS GLOBAL: Talhah al-Amriki and Online Jihadism”
Video Description - quote:
CronusGlobal | July 28, 2010
Contact Us: cronusglobal@gmail.com
Research and Analysis: Dr. Jarret Brachman
Production and Design: Aaron Mertens
Music from Kevin MacLeod
Category:
News & Politics
Tags:
jihadism terrorism terror al-qaida al-qaeda news current events talhah amriki cronus global
ADDING to post no. 27:
http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=807
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http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/07/29/my_pen_pal_the_jihadist
“My Pen Pal, the Jihadist”
SNIPPET: “How a young Virginia man charged with supporting terrorists in Somalia became my online sparring partner — and why he is so dangerous.”
BY JARRET BRACHMAN | JULY 29, 2010
October 20, 2010
NOTE The following text is a quote:
washingtondc.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/wfo102010.htm
Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Providing Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Encouraging Violent Jihadists to Kill U.S. Citizens
WASHINGTON—Zachary Adam Chesser, 20, of Fairfax County, Va., pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Court Judge Liam O’Grady to a three-count criminal information that included charges of communicating threats against the writers of the South Park television show, soliciting violent jihadists to desensitize law enforcement, and attempting to provide material support to Al-Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The guilty plea was announced by David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division; Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and John G. Perren, Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office.
Chesser faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 25, 2011.
“The defendant attempted to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and used the Internet to incite violence. Thankfully, his commitment to violence was outmatched by the dedicated work of the agents, prosecutors and analysts who worked tirelessly to bring this man to justice,” said Assistant Attorney General David Kris. “Today’s guilty plea is a direct result of the partnership and cooperation between the National Security Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI.”
“Zachary Chesser seriously endangered the lives of innocent people who will remain at risk for many years to come,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “His solicitation of extremists to murder U.S. citizens also caused people throughout the country to fear speaking out – even in jest – lest they also be labeled as enemies who deserved to be killed. In admitting his guilt today, Mr. Chesser reminded us of the serious threat homegrown jihadists pose to this country, and I express my gratitude and admiration for the FBI agents who apprehended Mr. Chesser before he could endanger even more Americans.”
“The FBI’s number one priority is to combat terrorist attacks against the United States,” said FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Perren. “Using broad-based communication channels to threaten, harm and intimidate and then incite others to do the same will not be tolerated. The FBI works to investigate persons who have acted on a radical philosophy and seek to harm to U.S. citizens.”
According to court documents filed with his plea agreement, Chesser maintained several online profiles dedicated to extremist jihad propaganda. Today, Chesser pleaded guilty to taking repeated steps in April 2010 to encourage violent jihadists to attack the writers of South Park for their depiction of Muhammad, including highlighting their residence and urging online readers to “pay them a visit.” Among the steps he took was posting on multiple occasions speeches by Anwar Al-Awlaki, which explained the Islamic justification for killing those who insult or defame Muhammad. Al-Awlaki was designated by the United States as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” on July 12, 2010.
Chesser also admitted that in May 2010, he posted to a jihadist website the personal contact information of individuals who had joined the “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day” group on Facebook, with the prompting that this is, “Just a place to start.”
Chesser also pleaded guilty to soliciting others to desensitize law enforcement by placing suspicious-looking but innocent packages in public places. Chesser explained through a posting online that once law enforcement was desensitized, a real explosive could be used. Chesser ended the posting with the words, “Boom! No more kuffar.” According to court documents, “kuffar” means unbeliever, or disbeliever.
According to court records, Chesser also admitted that from at least January 2010 through July 2010, he posted numerous messages online that included calls from Al-Awlaki to join violent jihadists and step-by-step actions individuals needed to take to leave for jihad. Among those postings included a video Chesser made that featured images of mujahedeen in Somalia and a song, sung by Chesser, with the translated title, “America We Are Coming.”
Chesser admitted that he promoted online what he called “Open Source Jihad,” where he would direct jihadists through his online forums to information on the Internet that they could use to elude capture and death while maintaining relevance and striking capability. This included linking to the entire security screening manual used by the Transportation Security Administration and hundreds of books that contained information on the construction of antiaircraft missiles, and tactics, techniques and weapons for targeting aircraft such as jet airplanes and helicopters.
In addition, Chesser pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to Al-Shabaab. On Feb. 29, 2008, the U.S. Department of State designated Al-Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization, describing it as a violent and brutal extremist group based in Somalia with a number of individuals affiliated with Al-Qaeda. This designation prohibits providing material support or resources to Al-Shabaab.
According to court records, Chesser admitted that he twice attempted to leave the United States and travel to Somalia for the purpose of joining Al-Shabaab and engage in violent jihad as a foreign fighter. The first attempt was in November 2009, which was postponed because his wife was unable to obtain her passport. The second attempt was on July 10, 2010, when he sought to board a flight from New York to Uganda with his infant son. He was prevented from boarding the plane, and Chesser admitted that he brought his son with him as part of his “cover” to avoid detection of his intention to join Al-Shabaab in Somalia. He also attempted to board the plane with a video camera, which he admitted in court that he intended to use to make production quality videos for al-Shabaab’s propaganda campaign.
Chesser also admitted today in court that he posted several online messages in support of Al-Shabaab, including videos of attacks by Al-Shabaab on a government building in Mogadishu, a video claiming that African Union troops are responsible for killing civilians in Somalia, a video supporting the merger of Al-Shabaab with another organization, and links to what Chesser described as the “Al Qaeda Manual” that included instructions in support of violent jihad.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon Kromberg and Thomas H. McQuillan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the National Security Division are prosecuting the case.
"Chesser faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 25, 2011."
http://www.adl.org/PresRele/Teror_92/5882_92.htm
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NOTE The following blog entry is a quote:
http://jarretbrachman.net/?p=1045
Mr. and Mrs. Chesser: Till Prison do They Part
Posted on October 20, 2010 by Admin
As Zach Chesser prepares to plead guilty today, there’s another curious story flying just below the radar. The crack jihadi cyber sleuths over at ADL released this report that is one of just handful to concentrate on Chesser’s wife (Umm Talhah).
Money quote:
Like her husband, Nzabanita has an extensive online footprint that dates back as early as December 2008 – before they were married – when she posted comments on Anwar al-Awlaki‘s now-defunct blog. Not only did she use Awlaki’s blog to explore issues surrounding how to be a woman and still fulfill the obligation of “jihad,” but she also communicated with Chesser about various related issues.
Previously...
http://www.adl.org/main_Terrorism/nzabanita_chesser.htm
“Wife of Virginia Man who Threatened South Park Faces Charges”
Posted: October 19, 2010
SNIPPET: “The wife of a Virginia man who allegedly attempted to travel to Somalia to join the terrorist group Al Shabaab has been charged with making a false statement to federal authorities.
Proscovia Kampire Nzabanita, a Ugandan woman living in Virginia, was charged with making a false statement about her husband’s case to federal authorities on October 18, 2010. On the same day, her husband Zachary Chesser was charged with additional terrorism offenses, including communicating threats and soliciting crimes of violence. Prior to his arrest, Chesser distributed a wide range of terrorist propaganda online and was the focus of national attention after he threatened the creators of South Park for satirizing issues surrounding the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad
Like her husband, Nzabanita has an extensive online footprint that dates back as early as December 2008 – before they were married – when she posted comments on Anwar al-Awlaki’s now-defunct blog. Not only did she use Awlaki’s blog to explore issues surrounding how to be a woman and still fulfill the obligation of “jihad,” but she also communicated with Chesser about various related issues.
In January 2009, Chesser responded to one of Nzabanita’s post about how a woman should participate in the movement. “If our community in the West had more sisters like you subhanallah we would be blessed mash’allah. I always thought if I made Hijra I would find a wife later, because of a lack of sympathy toward Al-Mujahideen, but perhaps there are more here than I though [sic],” he said, foreshadowing the fact that she would soon become his wife.
Nzabanita also posted messages to Awlaki’s blog encouraging Muslims to participate in holy war: “muslimoon [Muslims] get it together!” she wrote in December 2008. “Its pretty clear muslimoon, anyone who thinks jhd [jihad] is not fard [mandatory] is stil sleeping [sic].””
Post no. 14 is not related to the information provided in this thread.
February 24, 2011
NOTE The following text is a quote:
http://washingtondc.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel11/wfo022411a.htm
Virginia Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Providing Material Support and Encouraging Violent Jihadists to Kill U.S. Citizens
WASHINGTON—Zachary Adam Chesser, 21, of Fairfax County, Virginia, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for communicating threats against the writers of the South Park television show, soliciting violent jihadists to desensitize law enforcement, and attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The sentencing was announced by David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division; Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office.
“Zachary Chesser attempted to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and used the Internet to incite violence,” said Assistant Attorney General Kris. “Today he is being held accountable for his actions. I applaud the many agents, prosecutors, and analysts who worked tirelessly to bring this man to justice.”
“Zachary Chesser will spend 25 years in prison for advocating the murder of U.S. citizens for engaging in free speech about his religion,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “His actions caused people throughout the country to fear speaking out—even in jest—to avoid being labeled as enemies who deserved to be killed. The fact that a young man from Northern Virginia could support such violence and terror is a sobering reminder of the serious threat that homegrown jihadists pose to this country.”
“Zachary Chesser encouraged violent jihad,” said James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office. “The FBI is concerned about U.S. citizens traveling overseas to join al Shabaab, and we are vigilant in working to disrupt potential plots where U.S. citizens become further indoctrinated and return with actual terrorism experience and training.”
According to court documents filed with his plea agreement on Oct. 20, 2010, Chesser maintained several online profiles dedicated to extremist jihad propaganda. Chesser admitted to taking repeated steps in April 2010 to encourage violent jihadists to attack the writers of South Park for an episode that included Muhammad in a bear suit, including highlighting their residence and urging online readers to “pay them a visit.” Among the steps he took was posting on multiple occasions speeches by Anwar Al-Awlaki, which explained the Islamic justification for killing those who insult or defame Muhammad. Al-Awlaki was designated by the United States as a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist” on July 12, 2010.
Chesser also admitted that in May 2010, he posted to a jihadist website the personal contact information of individuals who had joined the “Everybody Draw Muhammad Day” group on Facebook, with the prompting that this is “Just a place to start.”
Chesser also pleaded guilty to soliciting others to desensitize law enforcement by placing suspicious-looking but innocent packages in public places. Chesser explained through a posting online that once law enforcement was desensitized, a real explosive could be used. Chesser ended the posting with the words, “Boom! No more kuffar.” According to court documents, “kuffar” means unbeliever, or disbeliever.
According to court records, Chesser also admitted that from at least January 2010 through July 2010, he posted numerous messages online that included calls from Al-Awlaki to join violent jihadists and step-by-step actions individuals needed to take to leave for jihad. Among those postings included a video Chesser made that featured images of mujahedeen in Somalia and a song, sung by Chesser, with the translated title, “America We Are Coming.”
Chesser admitted that he promoted online what he called “Open Source Jihad,” where he would direct jihadists through his online forums to information on the Internet that they could use to elude capture and death while maintaining relevance and striking capability. This included linking to the entire security screening manual used by the Transportation Security Administration and hundreds of books that contained information on the construction of anti-aircraft missiles and tactics, techniques, and weapons for targeting aircraft such as jet airplanes and helicopters.
In addition, Chesser pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab. On Feb. 29, 2008, the U.S. Department of State designated al Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization, describing it as a violent and brutal extremist group based in Somalia with a number of individuals affiliated with al Qaeda. This designation prohibits providing material support or resources to al Shabaab.
According to court records, Chesser admitted that he twice attempted to leave the United States and travel to Somalia for the purpose of joining al Shabaab and engage in violent jihad as a foreign fighter. The first attempt was in November 2009, which was postponed because his wife was unable to obtain her passport. The second attempt was on July 10, 2010, when he sought to board a flight from New York to Uganda with his infant son. He was prevented from boarding the plane, and Chesser admitted that he brought his son with him as part of his “cover” to avoid detection of his intention to join al Shabaab in Somalia. He also attempted to board the plane with a video camera, which he admitted in court that he intended to use to make production quality videos for al Shabaab’s propaganda campaign.
Chesser also admitted in court that he posted several online messages in support of al Shabaab, including videos of attacks by al Shabaab on a government building in Mogadishu, a video claiming that African Union troops are responsible for killing civilians in Somalia, a video supporting the merger of al Shabaab with another organization, and links to what Chesser described as the “Al Qaeda Manual” that included instructions in support of violent jihad.
This case is being investigated by the FBI Washington Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon Kromberg and Thomas H. McQuillan of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the National Security Division are prosecuting the case.
Http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/case_docs/1486.pdf
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FOR THE RECORD - THE IPT BLOG
http://www.investigativeproject.org/2625/prosecutors-chesser-threats-will-outlast-his-25
“Prosecutors: Chesser’s Threats will Outlast his 25-Year Sentence”
by IPT News • Feb 24, 2011 at 1:35 pm
SNIPPET: “A Virginia man who converted to Islam will serve 25 years in prison for trying to provide material support to the al-Shabaab terrorist group. He also admits issuing threats against the producers of “South Park,” and anyone who participated in “Everyone Draw Muhammad Day” online.
Zachary Chesser, 21, faced up to 30 years in prison. He expressed remorse for his crimes during a sentencing hearing Thursday morning.
Writing under the name Talhah al-Amrikee, he tried to solicit people to kill the Danish cartoonist who drew caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.
In an especially forceful sentencing memorandum, prosecutors argued that the damage from Chesser’s terrorist support activity will haunt his victims for the rest of their lives and cannot be undone by any change of heart.
“Chesser marked them for death for engaging in free expression that he found insulting as well,” prosecutors wrote.”These victims included a teenager in Mississippi and a young man from Texas depicted in a photo with his parents and a brother, along with the address of his ‘possible church/school.’ As Chesser pointed out for the killers in his audience on the Ansar Al Jihad Network, ‘Just a place to start.’”
He also encouraged people to leave suspicious packages in public places in hopes law enforcement became desensitized to their presence. Then, real bombs could be planted without being detected.”
aseerun.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/zachary-adam-chesser-september-9-2011-where-are-the-people-of-knowledge/
“Zachary Adam Chesser: September 9, 2011 (Where are the People of Knowledge?)”
SNIPPET:
“09
SEP
Bismillaah ir-Rahmaan ir-Rahiim,
11th Shawwaal, 1432
9th September, 2011
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu,
Here in Marion’s Communication Management Unit we have a decided lack of access to people of knowledge. The most knowledeable people in the Bureau of Prisons are locked up in Colorado’s notorious ADX facility, a medical facility in North Carolina, and Terre Haute, Indiana’s CMU.”
SNIPPET: “I am requesting that people find shuyuukh who are willing to answer our questions. They should know that we are almost all from cases such as the ‘Umar ‘Abdur-Rahmaan case, the first WTC bombing case, and other such cases. They should also know that all of our communications are read or listened to by intelligence officials. Furthermore, this is a unit where many if not most of the individuals will need to see things such as the usuul ul-fiqh/hadiith/tafsiir principles which cause the ruling to be such and such. Most of the prisoners here speak Arabic, but correspondences in Arabic take a few months to arrive whereas those in English usually arrive within a week or two.
Please, if you are qualified to help us or if you find somebody who is qualified for us, then send us their contact information (the best way to communicate for us is e-mail) either by sending it to aseerun.wordpress.com or by sending it to me in the mail at the following address:
Zachary Adam Chesser #76715-083
USP Marion
US Penitentiary
PO Box 1000
Marion, IL 62959”
SNIPPET: “Abu Talhah”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2487838/posts
#
NOTE The following text is a quote:
www.fbi.gov/washingtondc/press-releases/2012/leader-of-revolution-muslim-pleads-guilty-to-using-internet-to-solicit-murder-and-encourage-violent-extremism
“Leader of Revolution Muslim Pleads Guilty to Using Internet to Solicit Murder and Encourage Violent Extremism”
U.S. Attorney’s Office
February 09, 2012
Eastern District of Virginia
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Jesse Curtis Morton, aka Younus Abdullah Muhammed, 33, of New York City, pleaded guilty today to using his position as a leader of Revolution Muslim Organization’s Internet sites to conspire to solicit murder, make threatening communications, and use the Internet to place others in fear.
Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Raymond W. Kelly, New York City Police Commissioner, made the announcement after the plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.
Morton faces a maximum penalty five years in prison for each of the three charges when he is sentenced on May 18, 2012.
“Jesse Morton operated Revolution Muslim to radicalize those who saw and heard his materials online and to incite them to engage in violence against those they believed to be enemies of Islam,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “We may never know all of those who were inspired to engage in terrorism because of Revolution Muslim, but the string of recent terrorism cases with ties to Morton’s organization demonstrates the threat it posed to our national security. We’re grateful to the FBI, NYPD, and their law enforcement partners throughout the world who made today’s conviction possible.”
“Individuals such as Morton who encourage violence and create fear over the Internet are a danger to our society and to the freedoms we enjoy as citizens,” said Assistant Director in Charge McJunkin. “Today’s plea, and other recent cases of those associated with Morton’s organization, demonstrate the widespread nature of this danger. Together with our partner law enforcement agencies, and with the assistance of the community, the FBI will continue to pursue those who promulgate violent extremism and promote the radicalization of others.”
“Fortunately, NYPD Intelligence Division detectives were in a position to learn exactly how Morton used the Internet to conspire to solicit murder, and how he encouraged others to solicit the murder of an artist whose material he deemed offensive,” said Police Commissioner Kelly. “This important plea resulted because the NYPD’s monitoring of Morton’s activities, combined with the investigative and prosecutorial expertise of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Virginia, made for a strong case, in addition to a strong partnership.”
According to a statement of facts filed with his plea agreement, Morton founded Revolution Muslim in December 2007 and created various online forums that contained postings and information supportive of violent extremism. Morton and his associates used the organization’s websites to encourage Muslims to engage in violence against those they believed to be enemies of Islam and to support Osama bin Laden, Anwar Al-Awlaki, al Qaeda, the Taliban, and others espousing violence. They posted messages in support of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, the November 2009 killings at Ft. Hood and attacks and future threats against Jewish organizations, among others.
Through his online forums, Morton conspired with Zachary Chesser, of Fairfax County, Va., and others to solicit the murder of an artist tied to the “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” movement in May 2010, including posting online a magazine that included the artist in a hit list for violent extremists to take out and a message from Anwar Al-Awlaki that explicitly called for the artist’s assassination. In justifying these actions, Morton posted online a speech of his asserting that “Islam’s position is that those that insult the Prophet may be killed” and exhorting his listeners to fight the “disbelievers near you.”
In addition, Morton admitted through his statement of facts that he aided Chesser in taking repeated steps in April 2010 to encourage violent extremists to attack the writers of South Park for an episode that featured Muhammad in a bear suit, including highlighting their residence and urging online readers to “pay them a visit.” Among the steps they took were posting on multiple occasions speeches by Anwar Al-Awlaki, which explained the Islamic justification for killing those who insult or defame Muhammad. Morton worked with Chesser to draft a message for the website regarding the South Park threats, including a quote from Osama bin Laden that “If there is no check in the freedom of your words, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions.” Morton and Chesser posted the final version of this statement on various extremist online forums, and Chesser told Morton that he expected the statement would “scare the kuffar.” Kuffar is an Arabic term, referring to an unbeliever, or disbeliever, in Islam.
Chesser was arrested on July 21, 2010, charged with providing material support to al Shabaab and later also pleaded guilty to communicating threats and soliciting violent extremists to desensitize law enforcement. Four days after Chesser’s arrest, Morton fled to Morocco, where he resided until his arrest on U.S. charges on May 26, 2011.
In his statement of facts, Morton admitted that the Revolution Muslim websites contained the writings of and/or contributed to the radicalization of individuals who were inclined to engage in violence, including the following:
Samir Khan, previously of Charlotte, N.C., before moving to Yemen in 2009, was authorized by Morton to post materials on Revolution Muslim, and Morton provided Khan with two articles for the first two online editions of Jihad Recollections, an online magazine dedicated to violent extremism. In July 2010, Morton posted the first edition of Inspire magazine, an English-language magazine supporting al Qaeda that Morton believed to be the product of Khan. The magazine included an eight-page article titled “Make a bomb in the kitchen of Your Mom,” with detailed instructions regarding the construction of an explosive device.
Bilal Zaheer Ahmad, of the United Kingdom, was provided the password to Revolution Muslim by Morton and given permission to post messages. In November 2010, Ahmad praised Roshonara Choundhry for attempting to kill a British member of parliament over his support for the Iraq war and posted a list of 383 members of parliament who had voted for the Iraq war, along with suggestions on how to get in to see them and a link to a store selling a weapon similar to that used in Choundhry’s attack. Ahmad told Morton that the purpose of the post was to “make those MPs fearful.”
Abdel Hameed Shehedah, a former resident of Staten Island, N.Y., who was charged in October 2010 of making false statements involving his alleged attempt to travel to Pakistan to join a fighting group such as the Taliban. The statement of facts states that Shehedah attended Revolution Muslim meetings, made his website, civiljihad.com, a feeder site for Revolution Muslim and eventually arranged for all visitors to his website be routed automatically to Revolution Muslim.com.
Rezwan Ferdaus, of Ashland, Mass., was charged in September 2011 with plotting to attack the Pentagon and U.S. Capitol using large remote controlled aircraft filled with C-4 plastic explosives. The statement of facts states that in February 2010, Ferdaus e-mailed Morton asking for counsel regarding his duties as a Muslim and whether martyrdom operations were proper practice. Morton replied that martyrdom operations must be judged by intention but can have “enormous benfits (sic) in a war of attrition.”
Colleen R. LaRose, aka “Jihad Jane,” of Montgomery County, Pa., was charged in March 2010 with a variety of terrorism-related offenses, including plotting to kill Lars Vilks, a Swedish cartoonist who has been the subject of several murder threats based on his artwork depicting Muhammad. According to the statement of facts, Morton notified Sheikh Abdullah Faisal, a Muslim cleric convicted in the United Kingdom of soliciting murder, that LaRose was a subscriber to Revolution Muslim YouTube accounts.
Antonio Benjamin Martinez, of Baltimore, Md., was arrested and charged with plotting to bomb a military recruiting station in December 2010. The statement of facts states that one month prior to his arrest, Martinez viewed a video of Osama bin Laden and multiple terror training camp video clips on the Revolution Muslim website.
Jose Pimental, of New York City, was arrested and charged in November 2011 in connection with a plot to build and use a bomb to assassinate members of the U.S. military returning from active duty in Afghanistan. According to the statement of facts, Pimental contacted Morton saying that he was a big fan of Revolution Muslim, and that Morton recommended that Pimentel stay away from an individual because “there is high probability that he is working for the FBI.”
Mohamed Hamoud Alessa and Carlos Eduardo Almonte, both of New Jersey, were arrested in June 2010 on their way to Somalia to join a terrorist organization to kill individuals whose beliefs and practices did not accord with their ideology. The statement of facts states that both Alessa and Almonte were associates of Morton’s within the Revolution Muslim organization, and Morton was interviewed by investigators from the New York City Police Department on the day of their arrest.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the New York Police Department’s Intelligence Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon D. Kromberg and Karen L. Dunn of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the National Security Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
A copy of this press release may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia at www.usdoj.gov/usao/vae. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia at www.vaed.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.uspci.uscourts.gov.
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NOTE The following text is a quote:
Leader of Revolution Muslim Sentenced to 138 Months for Using Internet to Solicit Murder, Encourage Violent Extremism
U.S. Attorney’s Office
June 22, 2012
ALEXANDRIA, VA—Jesse Curtis Morton, aka Younus Abdullah Muhammed, 33, of New York City, was sentenced today to 138 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for using his position as a leader of the “Revolution Muslim” organization’s Internet sites to conspire to solicit murder, make threatening communications, and use the Internet to place others in fear.
Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office; and Raymond W. Kelly, New York City Police Commissioner, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady.
“Jesse Morton sought to inspire Muslims to engage in terrorism by providing doctrinal justification for violence against civilians in the name of Islam. The string of recent cases with ties to Mr. Morton demonstrates that he was very successful,” said U.S. Attorney MacBride. “His crimes not only put people’s lives forever in danger, but they also chilled free expression out of fear of retaliation by violent terrorists.”
“Mr. Morton utilized the Internet to incite fear and terror by encouraging violence and radicalization, and he will now pay for those crimes with today’s sentence,” said Assistant Director in Charge McJunkin. “Together with our partner law enforcement agencies, and with the assistance of the community, the FBI will continue to pursue those who support violent extremism and promote the radicalization of others, whether online or in person.”
Morton pleaded guilty on February 9, 2012. According to court records, in 2007, Morton founded Revolution Muslim, an organization that operated Internet platforms and websites supportive of violent extremism. Morton and his associates used the organization’s websites to encourage Muslims to engage in violence against those they believed to be enemies of Islam and to support Osama bin Laden, Anwar Al-Awlaki, al Qaeda, the Taliban, and others espousing violence. They posted messages in support of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the November 2009 killings at Ft. Hood, and attacks and future threats against Jewish organizations, among others.
Through his online forums, Morton conspired with Zachary Chesser, of Fairfax County, Virginia, and others to solicit the murder of an artist tied to the “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” movement in May 2010, including posting online a magazine that included the artist in a hit list for violent extremists to take out and a message from Anwar Al-Awlaki that explicitly called for the artist’s assassination. In justifying these actions, Morton posted online a speech of his asserting that “Islam’s position is that those that insult the Prophet may be killed” and exhorting his listeners to fight the “disbelievers near you.”
In addition, Morton admitted that he aided Chesser in taking repeated steps in April 2010 to encourage violent extremists to attack the writers of “South Park” for an episode that featured Muhammad in a bear suit, including highlighting their residence and urging online readers to “pay them a visit.” Among the steps they took were posting on multiple occasions speeches by Anwar Al-Awlaki, which explained the Islamic justification for killing those who insult or defame Muhammad. Morton worked with Chesser to draft a message for the website regarding the “South Park” threats, including a quote from Osama bin Laden: “If there is no check in the freedom of your words, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions.” Morton and Chesser posted the final version of this statement on various extremist online forums, and Chesser told Morton that he expected the statement would “scare the kuffar.” Kuffar is an Arabic term referring to an unbeliever, or disbeliever, in Islam.
Chesser was arrested on July 21, 2010, charged with providing material support to Al-Shabaab and later also pled guilty to communicating threats and soliciting violent extremists to desensitize law enforcement. Four days after Chesser’s arrest, Morton fled to Morocco, where he resided until his arrest on U.S. charges on May 26, 2011.
This investigation is being conducted by the FBI’s Washington Field Office and the New York Police Department’s Intelligence Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and Trial Attorney John T. Gibbs of the Counterterrorism Section in the National Security Division are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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