Indiana Man Admits to Explosives Plot, ISIL Ties

CROWN POINT, IN – Marlonn Hicks, 30, of Crown Point, Indiana, has confessed to a dangerous game: distributing instructions for building explosives. The plea, entered before a U.S. Magistrate Judge, confirms Hicks knowingly provided information on bomb-making with the clear intention it be used in a violent attack within the United States.

Federal prosecutors say Hicks wasn’t just tinkering with dangerous knowledge. According to court documents, Hicks was actively communicating online with individuals who turned out to be government informants. These conversations allegedly revealed a desire to join the ranks of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization. The timing is chilling – the communications intensified in the days following the horrific terrorist attack in Orlando, Florida.

The investigation, spearheaded by the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office and the Indianapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force, uncovered a disturbing pattern. Hicks allegedly indicated he anticipated dying on U.S. soil and began detailing how he planned to carry out an attack. The crucial evidence? A document containing explicit instructions for constructing explosives, sent directly to one of the government sources. Hicks believed he was communicating with a fellow extremist who would put those instructions to deadly use.

The government’s case hinges on proving Hicks intended for the attack to be carried out in the name of ISIL, providing material support to the terrorist organization. He wasn’t simply sharing information; he was actively seeking to enable a violent act in support of a foreign terrorist group. The Magistrate Judge is recommending acceptance of the guilty plea, but the district court has the final say, with a 14-day window for objections.

Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B. McCord, U.S. Attorney David Capp of the Northern District of Indiana, and Special Agent in Charge W. Jay Abbott of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office jointly announced the charges. The prosecution is being handled by the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Indiana. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism and the FBI’s commitment to disrupting such plots.

The case is numbered 16-1268. Anyone with questions is directed to contact the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it moves through the legal system and provide updates as they become available. The potential sentence for distributing explosives information remains undisclosed at this time.

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