BOWLING GREEN, KY – Mirsad Hariz Adem Ramic, 34, of Kentucky, is facing decades in prison after a federal jury found him guilty yesterday of multiple terrorism charges related to his support for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). The conviction marks a significant win for federal investigators tracking the flow of American citizens to foreign terrorist organizations.
According to evidence presented in court, Ramic, along with two co-conspirators, plotted their departure from the United States in June 2014. The trio landed in Istanbul, Turkey, intentionally abandoning the remainder of their travel plans. They then purchased new tickets to Gaziantep, Turkey – a city strategically located near the Syrian border. From there, the group brazenly crossed into Syria, joining the ranks of ISIS fighters.
Once embedded with ISIS, Ramic didn’t just blend in; he actively trained as a militant. Court documents detail his attendance at an ISIS training camp where he received military-type instruction. Disturbingly, a photograph surfaced on social media depicting Ramic clad in camouflage, standing proudly before a truck mounted with an anti-aircraft gun and bearing the ISIS flag – a chilling testament to his commitment to the terrorist group.
The prosecution laid out evidence of ongoing communication between Ramic and his co-conspirators, revealing discussions about his use of the anti-aircraft weapon, the ideology of jihad, the concept of martyrdom, and their collective fight for ISIS. Ramic, a dual U.S.-Bosnian citizen, specifically joined a unit composed primarily of Bosnian foreign fighters and even participated in the brutal ISIS offensive in Kobane, Syria.
Ramic’s foray into terrorism was cut short. He was taken into federal custody in December 2021 after being deported back to the United States from Turkey. Now, he awaits sentencing on September 5, facing a potential maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, a hefty $750,000 fine, and a lifetime of supervised release. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district judge, taking into account sentencing guidelines and other relevant factors.
The case was a joint effort led by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett for the Western District of Kentucky, and Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI’s National Security Branch. The FBI conducted the investigation, with Trial Attorneys Kevin C. Nunnally and Jessica Fender of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, alongside Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua Judd and Christopher Tieke of the Western District of Kentucky, securing the conviction. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of foreign terrorist organizations and the dedication of law enforcement to dismantle them.
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Key Facts
- State: Kentucky
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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