Samuel Rahamin Topaz, Conspiring to Provide Material Support, New Jersey 2015
New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIL
A Bergen County, New Jersey, man, Samuel Rahamin Topaz, 21, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on June 17, 2015 to conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
According to documents filed in this case, Topaz planned to travel overseas to join ISIL and had saved money for that purpose. He discussed plans to join ISIL with Nader Saadeh, Alaa Saadeh, and Munther Omar Saleh, and he admitted that at various times, each of them indicated that they wanted to join ISIL.
On May 5, 2015, Nader Saadeh departed the United States with plans to travel overseas to join ISIL as part of the conspiracy, according to Topaz's statements in court today. Topaz admitted to knowing that ISIL was a designated foreign terrorist organization taking over territory overseas, expelling non-Muslims from their homes, and executing individuals who did not obey ISIL's commands.
The count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization carries a statutory maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2015.
Topaz remains detained without bail. Nader and Alaa Saadeh have been charged in separate criminal complaints brought in the District of New Jersey with conspiring to provide material support to ISIL, among other charges. Saleh has been indicted on terrorism-related charges.
The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey, worked to disrupt the recruitment efforts by terrorist organizations and prevent acts of terror. The citizens of New Jersey are urged to remain vigilant and contact the FBI if they see or hear something suspicious.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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