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Everett Man Faces New Obstruction Charge in ISIL Case
BOSTON – David Daoud Wright, 26, of Everett, Massachusetts, is facing an expanded legal battle after federal prosecutors added an obstruction of justice charge to an already damning indictment alleging support for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The five-count second superseding indictment, filed today, centers around Wright’s alleged attempt to wipe his digital footprint following the deadly confrontation between his uncle and Boston police.
The original April 2016 indictment accused Wright and his co-conspirator, Nicholas Alexander Rovinski, of conspiring to provide material support to ISIL and committing acts of terrorism that crossed international boundaries. The new charge alleges that within minutes of learning his uncle, Usaamah Abdullah Rahim, had been shot and killed by law enforcement in a Roslindale parking lot on June 2, 2015, Wright took immediate action to erase incriminating data. This included restoring his laptop to factory settings and deleting call logs proving communication with Rahim earlier that day.
Prosecutors allege that Wright, Rahim, and Rovinski began plotting attacks as early as February 2015, fueled by ISIL’s calls to kill non-believers within the United States. Wright allegedly drafted organizational documents for a “Martyrdom Operations Cell” and obsessively researched firearms, the effects of tranquilizers, and the formation of clandestine militias. Simultaneously, Rahim was reportedly in direct communication with ISIL operative Junaid Hussain, who was later killed in a Syrian airstrike.
The conspiracy allegedly deepened in May 2015, with Hussain directing Rahim – who then relayed instructions to Wright – to target an individual in New York. Rovinski, meanwhile, reportedly conducted research on methods of beheading victims. Even after his arrest, Rovinski continued to advocate for violence, penning letters from jail detailing plans to dismantle the U.S. government and execute non-believers. Rovinski pleaded guilty in September 2016 to charges of conspiring to provide material support to ISIL and conspiring to commit acts of terrorism and is not named in the new indictment.
The obstruction charge adds another layer to the already complex case. If convicted on all counts, Wright faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence. Conspiracy to provide material support carries a maximum of 20 years, while conspiracy to obstruct justice carries a five-year maximum. The obstruction of justice charge itself carries a 20-year maximum. The most severe charge – conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism – carries a possible life sentence. It’s important to note that actual sentences are determined by a federal judge based on sentencing guidelines and other factors.
Wright is scheduled to be arraigned on February 28, 2107, at 10:00 a.m. Acting U.S. Attorney William D. Weinreb is prosecuting the case. This remains a developing story, and Grimy Times will continue to provide updates as they become available. The investigation highlights the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism and the challenges faced by law enforcement in disrupting these plots before they can come to fruition.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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