Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to Terrorists, New Mexico 2018

A federal jury in New Mexico convicted four defendants, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, Hujrah Wahhaj, Subhanah Wahhaj, and Lucas Morton, in connection with a kidnapping and terrorism plot. The case involved the abduction of a three-year-old boy from his mother in Alabama in December 2017.

The defendants, who were members of a community centered on the belief that the child was possessed by demons, took the boy to New Mexico, where he died fewer than two weeks after arriving. The group, led by Jany Leveille, believed that the child would return as Jesus Christ to pass judgment on corrupt institutions, including the FBI and the military.

The group established a fortified base and a firing range, where they conducted weapons and tactical training. They were armed with 11 firearms, including an AR-15 Bushmaster assault rifle, high-capacity magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

The defendants were convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material support to terrorists, and conspiracy to murder an officer or employee of the United States. Hujrah Wahhaj, Subhanah Wahhaj, and Lucas Morton were also convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death.

Jany Leveille, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, faces up to 17 years in prison. The other defendants face up to life in prison. The case was investigated by the FBI Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Taos County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance, and 8th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The convictions are a significant blow to the group’s ideology and a reminder of the dangers of domestic terrorism. The case highlights the importance of vigilance and cooperation between law enforcement agencies in preventing and investigating crimes.

The defendants will be sentenced at a later date. In the meantime, they will remain in custody pending sentencing.

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