BRUSHER CITY – Mohamed Rafik Naji, a 38-year-old Brooklyn resident, has pleaded guilty in federal court to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Naji faced charges for his alleged attempt to join the terrorist organization in Yemen.
The plea comes after Naji traveled from New York to Yemen in March 2015, where he sought to link up with ISIS. He detailed his efforts, including navigating militarized zones and evading security guards, in communications with an associate back home. Upon returning to the U.S. in September 2015, Naji continued to express support for ISIS and even discussed a potential attack on Times Square.
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill hailed the joint efforts of the New York Field Office of the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) for their role in apprehending Naji. The JTTF includes federal, state, and local agencies from across the region.
During his time in Yemen, Naji documented his experiences with videos and propaganda that he shared with others. One such video, titled “First day on the job,” featured Naji’s voice over automatic weapon fire. Upon his arrest by the New York JTTF in 2016, Naji faced a potential sentence of up to 20 years.
Prosecutors Ian C. Richardson and Melody Wells led the case against Naji, with Trial Attorney Brian Morgan from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section providing assistance.
Naji will be sentenced by United States District Judge Frederic Block, where he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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