Fazliddin Kurbanov, Federal Terrorism Charges, Boise ID, 2023

BOISE, ID — Fazliddin Kurbanov, 30, a man from Boise with Uzbekistani roots, was nabbed Thursday morning in a federal terrorism sweep that spanned across Idaho and Utah. The grim news of his arrest came as the Department of Justice (DOJ) laid out serious charges against him.

Kurbanov, legally present in the U.S., is accused by a federal grand jury in Boise of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization—the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. He’s also charged with conspiracy to provide support to terrorists and possessing an unregistered destructive device. In Salt Lake City, another federal grand jury indicted him for distributing information on explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction.

The investigation was a joint effort by the FBI’s Salt Lake City Division and Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) in Idaho and Utah, involving multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Federal agents had been closely monitoring Kurbanov’s activities throughout the probe, ensuring his potential threat was neutralized.

David B. Barlow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah, Wendy J. Olson, U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho, John Carlin, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security at the DOJ, and Mary Rook, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Division, were among those who announced the charges.

Kurbanov will appear in federal court in Boise on Friday, following which he’ll be transferred to Utah. He faces a potential life sentence if convicted on all counts.

‘Today’s arrest underscores our commitment to thwarting unlawful terrorist activities,’ said Olson. ‘The public’s safety is paramount, and the tireless efforts of law enforcement partners have been instrumental in this successful operation.’