Lionel Nelson Williams, Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL, Virginia 2016

NORFOLK, Va. – A local man was charged today with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Lionel Nelson Williams, 26, of Suffolk, was arrested yesterday in Suffolk and will have his detention and preliminary hearings on Tuesday morning at the federal courthouse in Norfolk.

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, in October and November 2016, Williams sent money to a person he believed was collecting money for ISIL to purchase weapons and ammunition for ISIL fighters.

Williams also posted content on social media indicating his support for ISIL and attacks targeting police officers, military, and armed civilians, according to the complaint affidavit.

In addition, the investigation revealed that Williams ordered an AK-47 assault rifle the day after the terror attack in San Bernardino, California, in December 2015, and two firearms, including an AK-47 and a semi-automatic handgun, were recovered in a post-arrest search of Williams’ residence.

Williams faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.

The investigation was conducted by the Norfolk Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Suffolk Police Department.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/suffolk-man-charged-attempting-provide-material-support-isil-0