U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon of the Northern District of Illinois, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, and Special Agent in Charge Robert Holley of the FBI’s Chicago Division announced today that two Aurora, Illinois, men were arrested Wednesday night for allegedly conspiring to provide material support to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a foreign terrorist organization.
Army National Guard Specialist Hasan Edmonds, 22, a U.S. citizen, was arrested without incident at Chicago Midway International Airport by members of the Chicago FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) while attempting to fly to Cairo, Egypt. Jonas Edmonds, 29, a U.S. citizen, was arrested without incident at his home in Aurora. After the arrests on Wednesday night, agents executed search warrants at the residences of both defendants. The defendants were charged in a criminal complaint filed yesterday in U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois with one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization. The initial appearances of Hasan Edmonds and Jonas Edmonds are scheduled at 3:00 p.m. today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila Finnegan.
As alleged in the complaint, in late 2014, Hasan Edmonds came to the attention of the FBI. The investigation subsequently revealed that he and Jonas Edmonds had devised a plan for Hasan Edmonds to travel overseas for the purpose of waging violence on behalf of ISIL. Hasan Edmonds, a current member of the Illinois Army National Guard, planned to use his military training to fight on behalf of ISIL. As part of their plans, Hasan Edmonds booked airline travel to depart yesterday from Chicago and arrive in Cairo today, with layovers in Detroit and Amsterdam.
As alleged in the complaint, both defendants also planned for Jonas Edmonds to carry out an act of terrorism in the United States after Hasan Edmonds departed. In particular, both defendants met with an FBI undercover employee and presented a plan to carry out an armed attack against a U.S. military facility in northern Illinois, an installation where Hasan Edmonds had been training. Jonas Edmonds asked the FBI undercover employee to assist in the attack and explained that they would use Hasan Edmonds’ uniforms and the information he supplied about how to access the installation and target officers for attack.
“We will pursue and prosecute with vigor those who support ISIL and its agenda of ruthless violence,” said U.S. Attorney Fardon. “Anyone who threatens to harm our citizens and allies, whether abroad or here at home, will face the full force of justice.”
“According to the charges filed today, the defendants allegedly conspired to provide material support to ISIL and planned to travel overseas to support the terrorist organization,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “In addition, they plotted to attack members of our military within the United States. Disturbingly, one of the defendants currently wears the same uniform of those they allegedly planned to attack. I want to thank the many agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for disrupting the threat posed by these defendants.”
“The arrests today are the culmination of a successful investigation that involved a great deal of coordination and communication with our law enforcement and military partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Holley. “Throughout the course of this investigation, the defendants were closely and carefully monitored to ensure the safety of the public and our service men and women.”
Conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. If convicted, the court must impose a reasonable sentence under federal statutes and the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s JTTF, which is comprised of special agents of the FBI, officers of the Chicago Police Department and representatives from an additional 20 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant Attorney General Carlin joins U.S. Attorney Fardon in extending his appreciation to the JTTF.
The Chicago Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), the Illinois State Police, the Aurora Police Department and the Illinois National Guard also provided significant assistance.
The government is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Barry Jonas and John Kness of the Northern District of Illinois, and Trial Attorney Lolita Lukose of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
The public is reminded that a complaint contains only charges and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Wow.
In the past, I’ve been a tad bit skeptical of the FBI’s participation in these sorts of sting operations. But considering what happened in Paris not long ago, I’m totally OK with them now. Set ‘em up if you have to, then knock ‘em down.
- PublicServant - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 11:51 am:
There’s a population decline I don’t mind in the least.
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:02 pm:
Oh for the days when the only terrorist in the Aurora area was an eco one called the Fox who would poor sludge in corporate offices.
Sad state of affairs.
- Muscular - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:04 pm:
Unfortunately, these guys can’t receive the death penalty. Let’s hope they get the maximum 15 year sentence.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:08 pm:
Cairo is an odd destination, unless he thought he could wander out to Sinai and hook up with the faction there.
Turkey has been the transit point for those outside the region looking to join up in Iraq or Syria.
The generals running the show in Egypt aren’t looking the other way when it comes to ISIS, unlike our NATO ally, Turkey.
- Oneman - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:09 pm:
curious if the targeted facility was in aurora
- Just Sayin ... - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:11 pm:
Its nice of the Governor to commend and thank those for their efforts …..but, I’m looking for governing leadership where the Governor gives us the assurance that his homeland security chief is aggressively pursuing all angles of terrorism in Illinois and abroad. Looking for more than a “ceremonial” governor I guess in this extreme dangerous development.
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:14 pm:
Multiple foreign policy journalists have also said that Atlantic piece is the best explanation of ISIS they have seen.
- Norseman - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:16 pm:
Oneman, I read that it was a facility the guard brother trained in. I don’t recall Aurora having such a facility.
- Oneman - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:23 pm:
Not sure if it is a guard or reserve facility at EA. Think there is one other in town
- Slick Willy - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:25 pm:
I am waiting for the press release from BVR tying these two to a public union…
- Formerly Known As... - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:26 pm:
These two this month. Illinois residents from Geneva, Rockford and Schiller Park last month. The guy from Chicago the month before.
What is going on? smh
- Wensicia - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:35 pm:
ISIS kind of reminds me of “Dune” by Herbert; the need of a native religious minority to “cleanse” and take back their world through violent jihad. I know it’s not close to the modern example, but the fanaticism is the same.
- Downstate Illinois - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:44 pm:
Ditto on the Atlantic piece.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:47 pm:
Graeme Wood’s piece certainly explains why ISIS attracts so many foreigners like these Edmonds boys, and even teenage girls from Britain. End of days cults are very attractive to some, Lord knows why. That’s a very good piece Rich. Thanks for sharing the link or I’d never have seen it.
This week’s Economist covers the current ISIS conflict and reports that it most likely over-reached by declaring a caliphate because now it has to govern. In many areas of Iraq, it is being pushed back. It’s lost about 75% of its revenues and is losing its governing legitimacy in many places, heck they can barely pay their fighters and are having trouble keeping the electricity on and the water running. U.S. airstrikes and Iranian-backed Shia militias on the ground have stopped the march on Baghdad, while the Kurds have reclaimed all of their traditional territory in northern Iraq.
There are many, many Sunnis caught in the middle, and feeling forced to support ISIS as the Alawite regime in Syria and the Shia-dominated Iraqi government have persecuted Sunni Muslims. It’s partly that ISIS attracts them, but don’t discount the on-going Sunni-Shia battles as forcing Sunnis into the arms of ISIS.
It’s a mess and it’s going to stay a mess for the foreseeable future.
- WAK - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:48 pm:
The Atlantic piece is good, another essential read is Alastiar Crooke’s article on the History of Wahabbism, Saudia Arbaia and ISIS http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alastair-crooke/isis-wahhabism-saudi-arabia_b_5717157.html
- walker - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:49 pm:
Word: yeah Cairo made no sense to me either, unless he was going to catch a ride Westward.
- Carl Nyberg - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 12:58 pm:
The Atlantic piece on ISIS is brilliant at explaining ISIS in a way that neglects everything relevant in a military sense.
Who buys the weapons?
How are they transported?
Who provides the money?
Who provides logistical support?
All the questions that would be obvious to journalists who weren’t corrupt & aligned with Corporate Media hawking racism (Islamophobia) and war.
- Jasper - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 1:16 pm:
There is a functional gallows in Benton….
just sayin’
- PrairieFire - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 1:18 pm:
So they bought a plane ticket and planned for the one not in the national guard to attack a military facility in Illinois.
Cases like this feel like they would be difficult to sustain in court, because there is no action or violent event. There are most likely only recordings and the purchase of the plane ticket. Entrapment will almost assuredly be a defense here.
- Jorge - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
Graeme’s piece is spot on. ISIS is a barbaric and knuckle dragging organization that must be destroyed. However a piece nobody discussed is the role of the former King of Clubs, al Douri, and his plan for the Bathists he still commands. ISIS doesn’t pull all the strings in the Syrian and Iraqi Sunni lands.
- PrairieFire - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 1:38 pm:
==…FBI’s JTTF comprised of special agents of the FBI, officers of the Chicago Police Department and representatives from an additional 20 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant Attorney General Carlin joins U.S. Attorney Fardon in extending his appreciation to the JTTF.
The Chicago Police Department, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI), the Illinois State Police, the Aurora Police Department and the Illinois National Guard also provided significant assistance.==
All right, all of these agencies are collaborating to fight this problem.
How many of those resources are also targeting the flow of illegal weapons into the city of Chicago? And are they also attempting to capture the sellers providing those weapons to criminals here?
- MrJM - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 2:10 pm:
Under section 94 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Specialist Hasan Edmonds’ offenses appear to be punishable by death. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/894
– MrJM
- I B Strapped - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 2:30 pm:
“Jonas Edmonds asked the FBI undercover employee to assist in the attack and explained that they would use Hasan Edmonds’ uniforms and the information he supplied about how to access the installation and target officers for attack.”
Must be a new angle on the use of carefully planned anonymity?
- Last Bull Moose - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 4:44 pm:
Graeme Wood’s piece is excellent. I studied the Koran while living under Sharia law. I was trying to understand the Muslims with and for whom I worked.
Most Americans I know have difficulty understanding a feudal society where religion is central to the sense of self. Face is more important than performance. The soul is more important than the length of life. After all, the day of death is preordained, though the manner of death is not.
It is not Islamaphobia to say that ISIS acts in accordance with the Koran as written and as the early Caliphs acted. Most Muslims today would not act as ISIS, and that offers some hope for the future.
- Wordslinger - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 4:55 pm:
LBM, you’re presuming that they’re all true believers in the apocalyptic vision.
Wouldnt be the first time appealing to religious fanaticism has been used for land grabs or ofher unholy purposes. That’s certainly an old act in that part of the world.
The backbone of that outfit are former Baathists under Saddam. They were secularists when it suited them.
I’m quite certain they’re motivated by power and wealth in this world, not in kingdom come.
- 47th Ward - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 5:09 pm:
===I’m quite certain they’re motivated by power and wealth in this world===
We mostly agree, but what I think the Bathists find in common with the crazy cultists of ISIS is a mutual hatred of Shia’s, the now dominant group controlling both Iraq and Syria.
The enemy of my enemy and what-not.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Mar 26, 15 @ 6:11 pm:
I read they were targeting a facility in Joliet.