U.S. citizen Bernard Augustine was hit with federal terrorism charges today after prosecutors unsealed a complaint alleging he attempted to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The indictment, filed in Brooklyn federal court, marks the latest chapter in a years-long pursuit of Augustine, who allegedly traveled to Tunisia in February 2016 with the intent of crossing into Libya and joining ISIL-controlled forces.
According to the criminal complaint, Augustine’s radicalization was well-documented before his departure from the United States. In the months leading up to his travel, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) investigators obtained a search warrant for his laptop. Forensic analysis revealed he had viewed numerous videos of ISIL fighters committing acts of violence, studied radical jihadist propaganda, and researched how to join the terrorist group. His search history included explicit queries about firearms, violent jihad, and extremist figures like Usama Bin Laden and Anwar al-Awlaki.
Upon arriving in Tunisia, Augustine attempted to make his way to Libya—a known corridor for foreign fighters seeking to join terrorist networks. Tunisian authorities intercepted him before he could cross the border into ISIL territory. He was subsequently arrested, imprisoned, and upon completing his sentence, expelled from the country. Tunisian officials handed him over directly to FBI agents, who brought him back to U.S. soil to face federal charges.
“As alleged in the complaint, Augustine sought to travel to Libya to join a violent terrorist organization,” said Richard P. Donoghue, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “This Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to arrest and prosecute aspiring terrorists before they are able to threaten the United States and its allies.” Donoghue credited the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, a sprawling network of federal, state, and local agencies, for the successful takedown.
FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. emphasized the global reach of domestic terror threats. “Augustine, a U.S. citizen, traveled halfway around the world with the intent of joining ISIS. Today, that journey ends in a US courtroom to face the justice system for his alleged support for a terrorist organization.” Sweeney praised the JTTF’s relentless coordination and vowed continued action against homegrown extremism.
When questioned, NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill underscored the persistent danger posed by online radicalization. “Today, as is too often the case, another person was arrested for attempting to provide material support to ISIS,” O’Neill said. “Terrorism, violence, and murder is not a pathway to martyrdom. We will continue to arrest anyone who attempts to join or help a terrorist organization.” Augustine is scheduled to appear this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon in Brooklyn. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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