2:17-mj MCRI Date Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Page 1 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Date Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Page 1 of 23

Transcription

1 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1 Pge 1 of 1

2 .'. 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 1 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 1 of 23 ; ~.'., SEALED Redcted AFFIDA VIT IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION FOR A CRIMINAL COMPLAINT AND ARREST WARRANT (U nder Sel) 1. I, Clinn F. Pierce, being first duly swom,hereby depose nd stte s follows: INTRODUCTION AND AGENT BACKGROUND 2. I m Specil Agent with the Federl Bureu of Investigtion (''FBI''), hving entered on duty on July 18, 2010, nd s such, m n investigtive or lw enforcement officer of the United Sttes within the mening of Rule 4 I () of the Federl Rules of Criminl Procedure. I m engged in the enforcement of criminl lws nd m within the ctegory of officers uthorized by the Atrney Generl request nd execute rrest nd serch wrrnts. 3. I hve investigted ntionl security cses involving individuls seeking trvel ses commit violet jihd, (i.e. fight nd engge in terrorist ctivity) s well s individuls involved in using the internet nd socil medi pplictions in support ofterrorist ctivities nd/or orgniztions. Additionlly, I hve completed FBI dministered counterterrorism clssroom nd online trining, t the FBI Acdemy nd other FBI fcilities. Currently, I m ssigned the South Crolin Joint Terrorism Tsk Force ("JTTF"). My duties t the JTTF include investigt ing criminl violtions of the federl lws of the United Sttes. During my six yer creer s n FBI Specil Agent, I hve prticipted in investigtions of individuls who re motivted by extremist ideology nd groups who commit or conspire commit criminl cts, including cts of terrorism. I hve conducted nd prticipted in physicl nd electronic surveillnce, executed serch wrrnts, debriefed in;? nd

3 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 2 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 2 of 23 cooperting witnesses nd reviewed recorded converstions. Additionlly, I hve received trining, both forml nd informl, in counter terrorism cses through the FBI's trining cdemy in Quntico, Virgini. As n FBI Specil Agent with the JTTF I hve investigted Counterterrorism nd Criminl mtters. This investigtive experience hs provided comprehensive understnding of how extremists utilize socil medi, the internet, nd criminl ctivity support terrorism. 4. The fcts in this ffidvit come from my personl observtions, my trining nd experience, nd informtion obtined from other FBI employees s well s from other lw enforcement gencies. This ffidvit is intended show merely tht there is sufficient probble cuse support the criminl complint nd does not purport set forth ll of the knowledge of or investigtion in this mtter. Unless specificlly indicted otherwise, ll converstions nd sttements described in this ffidvit re relted in substnce nd in prt only, in relince on drft verbtim trnscripts tht hve not yet been finlized but I believe re ccurte in their representtion of the substnce or the converstions nd sttements. All dtes re on or bout the specified dte. 5. Bsed on my trining nd experience s Specil Agent with the FBI, s well s the fcts set forth in this ffidvit, there is probble cuse believe tht on or bout Jnury 3, 2017, through Mrch 30, 2017, Zkryi Abdel Abdin (Abdin) ttempted provide mteril support designted foreign terrorist orgniztion, the Islmic Stte of Irq nd i-shm ("ISIS") in violtion of Title 18, United Sttes Code, Section 2339B()(l). Specificlly, Abdin ttempted provide mteril support or reuces, s the term is defined in 18 U.S.C. 2339(), nmely personnel, (i.e. himself), ISIS nd hs performed these cts in the District of South Crolin. 6. This Court is dvised tht there re sttements within the Probble Cuse section of this Affidvit tht hve been preliminrily trnslted from Arbic in English by qulified FBI Linguist for the purpose of ccurtely representing the sttements mde by Abdin. Where there

4 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 3 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 3 of 23 re multiple instnces of prticulr term or phrse, Affint will only include trnsltion for the initil occurrence. PROBABLE CAUSE Title 18, United Sttes Code, Section 2339B()(1) 7. Title 18, United Sttes Code, Section 2339B sttes: "Whoever knowingly provides mteril support or resources foreign terrorist orgniztion, or ttempts or conspires do so, shll be fined under this title or imprisoned... To violte this prgrph, person must hve knowledge tht the orgniztion is designted terrorist orgniztion (s defined in subsection (g)(6», tht the orgniztion hs engged or engges in terrorist ctivity (s defined in section 212()(3)(B) of the Immigrtion nd Ntionlity Act), or tht the orgniztion hs engged or engges in terrorism (s defined in section 140(d)(2) of the Foreign Reltions Authoriztion Act, Fiscl Yers 1988 nd 1989)." Title 18 U.S.C. 2339(A)(b)(1) provides definition for mteril support, which includes "ny property, tngible or intngible, or service, including... trining, expert dvice or ssistnce... wepons... (nd) personnel (one or more individuls who my be or include oneself)." Designtion of ISIS s Foreign Terrorist Orgniztion 8. On or bout Ocber 15, 2004, the United Sttes Secretry of Stte designted l- Qed in Irq (AQI), then known s Jm 't l Twid w' l-jhid, s Foreign Terrorist Orgniztion (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigrtion nd Ntionlity Act nd s Specilly Designted Globl Terrorist entity under section l(b) of Executive order On or bout My 15,2014, the Secretry of Stte mended the designtion of AQI s n FTO under Section 219 of the Immigrtion nd Ntionlity Act nd s Specilly Designted Globl Terrorist entity under section l(b) of Executive Order dd the lis Islmic Stte ofirq nd the Levnt (ISIL)

5 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 4 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 4 of 23 s nme. l on ws nme 3, ws n 1, nme 5, 17, sme 1 on or 7, 17,

6 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 5 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 5 of 23 long gun from retil sre in North Chrlesn, South Crolin, nd tht on tht sme dte, Abdin ttempted purchse used New Englnd Firerms (NEF), single shot,.308 Winchester cliber rifle, seril number NM On bout Jnury 13, 2017, Abdin contcted the FBI Columbi-Chrlesn Resident Agency t the suggestion of South Crolin Lw Enforcement Division (SLED) Agents nd scheduled n interview. On or bout Jnury 20, 2017, Abdin visited the FBI Columbi- Chrlesn Resident Agency in Mount Plesnt, SC meet with SA Clinn Pierce. During this interview, SA Pierce dvised Abdin bout the FBI's role in conducting counterterrorism investigtions nd outlined for him vrious sttury definitions. SA Pierce provided the definitions for terrorism nd specificlly ld Abdin tht ISIS ws designted foreign terrorist orgniztion (FTO) nd tht it ws illegl give ny FTO ny form of mteril support, including personnel. Abdin indicted tht he undersod these things. In fct, during the interview, Abdin stted tht he wnted nothing do with his pst ctions nd climed tht he hd completely disssocited himself with extremist ideology. Abdin stted tht he purchsed 7mm-08 single-shot hunting rifle be used for hunting nd would like obtin hunting license. Abdin's purchse ws confirmed by wy of trnsction record detiling Abdin's purchse on or bout 01110/2017 where Abdin returned New Englnd Firerms (NEF), Single Shot Win.308 rifle, Seril number: C1NM295031, originlly purchsed on 01/07117 for $99.99, plus $8.50 sles tx. A hnd written note on the receipt stted, "Buying new gun when money returns credit crd", "new gun", nd " ". The Jnury 19, 2017 trnsction record detiled firerm sle Abdin for New Englnd Firerms, model SB2, Hndi-Rifle Youth, 7mm-08 cliber, with seril number CBA for $ Other items purchsed during this visit included Trditionl Red Dot: 1x30mm optic for $39.99, nd one box of Americn Whitetil 7mm mmunition for $ In ddition, during the interview on Jnury 20, 2017 with the FBI, Abdin stted tht he hd only one SMP-1 ccount.

7 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 6 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 6 of 23 1 or 17, not nrl nl111p on 15. 7, on or usernme on nme n n t on or 2017, the utilized nd the video from the ~~.HWuvA 1 res on or 17,

8 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 7 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 7 of 23 is on two ws 9, 7, n extr on 7, ws s n two sre: A 1 res on or 7, re on or 16, 17, s s x This of mmunition is used in SKS semi-umtic rifles. note on re n s

9 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 8 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 8 of 23 re, cse cse. 18. or ccount n 1) This UCE's 0 ective ws operte nd interct online. tht 's s n "''''UI-',''<4I.", is mens nt is wre l l is were l

10 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 9 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 9 of 23 it in " I, not wnt ws now I cn out , 17, ws is it..1 went on if wnt me I m lm " s I wnt. " ccount extr it two "we must very

11 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 10 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 10 of 23 connection... my sitution is very different then some of the other ikhw [brothers].. But lhmdulih [prise God] It ws just test from Allh... nd test of sbr [ptience]. Abdin continued the converstion stting he hs the "twghet [Tyrnts] fooled" ( term tht likely refers lw enforcement nd others in the United Sttes in thinking he is conforming societl norms. Abdin stted "I need get out of here s soon s possible... for the ske of Allh help me s much s you cn." UCE-I dvised Abdin tht they (the UCE nd fellow ISIS brothers) will do wht they cn nd sked if Abdin hd job py for his trvel. Abdin responded tht he is mechnic nd in one month could come up with pproximtely $1200. Abdin further stted tht the U.S. officils hve no choice but let him trvel s long Abdin hs good excuse do so. During this converstion, Abdin sent UCE-I pho of the c of U.S. pssport stting, "I wnt you know who you re deling with". Then Abdin sent nother pho of msked person holding wht ppers be rifle nd stted, "This is me. So I wnt you believe me. I m rel khi." UCE-l responded nd sid tht Abdin's pho looks like rel mujhid [fighter], which Abdin replied, "Yes, I m longing for it...1 wnt the ikhwh know tht I m very relible in close combt...1 require no trining." 21. In the sme converstion UCE-l informed Abdin "remember once you come here you will hve kill nd you will see ded people including mny ded friends. Are you prepred kill? Wlhi some of the brothers from the west when they come they get scred nd wnt go bck." Abdin responded, "Akhi. Wht question is this? WALLAHI [ I SWEAR] I wnt kill nd be killed. I run wrds the enemy like lion sheep." "I m longing be with my ikhwh [brothers]. I dislike being lone here in the US... Rfidi [Shi muslims], murtdeen, kuffr, PKK [Kurdish Workers' Prty], ll of these I hve no problem nd no sdness kill". 22. The converstion from Februry 21, 2017, continued between Abdin nd UCE-I, wherein Abdin described the excuse he hd come up with trvel. Abdin stted "my excuse is...1 m going the ded se for vction off work". Abdin then dvised UCE-l tht he ws under "high ctfl

12 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 11 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 11 of 23 two is must soon. ses or 7, once ccount 1 1, on if cnnot ses ws 7, ccount 1 ws cme

13 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 12 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 12 of 23 course " me so I I on 17, s 1 t IS re or!! I wnt " or me is " or..._...'" ccount 1

14 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 13 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 13 of 23 I is on lm " 1, 17, ccount t ws on I contct no not wnt 1 sent two wnt " 1, 17, on 1 ccount 1 or nme

15 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 14 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 14 of 23 is l I m IEn,,,,,,'n s IS I wnt I " , n I on crs I " 3, 17, ccount 1 occurrence 17, s n 9 one 10 spp(: t

16 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 15 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 15 of 23 t s ten ccount 1 " sent 3, 17, ws 1 on I ws.. p1"".... 'no" 5, 17, converstion,

17 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 16 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 16 of 23 In I IV'-'n.... 'u It T two sve it or 7, 17, ccount 1 sent we cn meet if it ccount 1 ws it men contct so 1, our ikhwh in Khilfh. Here did it on his own?" UCE-I " meets one

18 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 17 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 17 of 23 re most contct n " is comment ws n 11, ccount it I IS ccount during his trip is I cut s s I cse I s soon s me so I m outsmrt 7, ccount I ccount ccount is not nrc"!",..,, new ccount. u... '"'...,~''' is s

19 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 18 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 18 of 23 ccount t 1, corner never turn I [I swer, I swer is corner ws... far.. ;,., gun or 15, 2017, ccount

20 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 19 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 19 of 23 1, we sttes "I wnt I wnt is not c wnt wnt one it bec:u:5e I m ccount 1 current "~,"'nll sttus m t now next I wnt I ~ I 16, 17, ""ntln1 it or ssesses use l women

21 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 20 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 20 of 23 or 1 ccount 1 I not see, me n ct t s ws not it cn now out " I never 17, 17, comment [I swer... I ws

22 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 21 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 21 of 23 our '" I swt [I nr,."p" 12, news I I I ws out... most see if nswer or on me... I not cre... I 51. ws U1,,""',O ccount new I m soon 17, C'{'\lml1npr'C'1 17 t "n,,,...,.n,v 1 tht he ws 1, 2017, t ll",nrc'" 2:05 AM. 17, t <>n.,,\rn.v 17 one V"'~"\'I'-'U comrnel:c

23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 22 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 22 of 23 ticket counter where he provided the ttendnt with trvel documents nd received bording pss for interntionl trvel Ammn, Jordn. Abdin then proceeded from the ticketing counter wrd the Trnsporttion Security Administrtion's security screening re. Conclusion 52. Bsed on the foregoing, your Affint believes tht there is probble cuse show tht between on or bout Jnury 03, 2017, nd on or bout Mrch 30, 2017, Zkryi Abdel Abdin ttempted provide mteril support, including personnel, ISIS, designted foreign terrorist orgniztion, in violtion of Title 18, United Sttes Code, Section 2339B()(l), nd tht Abdin committed t cts in furthernce of his ttempt provide mteril support in the District of South Crolin. This ffidvit hs been reviewed by Assistnt United Sttes Atrney Sen Kittrell Respectfully submitted, /J!; Subscribed nd sworn '"',ymt tli-'/_i -++_+-~ ~ Specil Agent Federl Bureu of Investigtion, ;. / f' / '1

24 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 1-1 Pge 23 of 23 2:17-mj MCRI Dte Filed 03/31/17 Entry Number 2 *SEALED* Pge 23 of 23 BRISTOW MARCHANT UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE