New Jersey Man Admits Conspiring with White Supremacists to Vandalize Synagogues Across the Country

 A New Jersey man pleaded guilty today to his role in conspiring with members of a white supremacist hate group to threaten and intimidate African Americans and Jewish Americans by vandalizing minority-owned properties throughout the country in September 2019.

Richard Tobin, 19, of Brooklawn, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with conspiracy against rights. U.S. District Court Judge Robert B. Kugler scheduled sentencing for June 28, 2021.

“Conspiring with others to vandalize and destroy property owned by African-Americans and Jewish Americans will not be tolerated by the Department of Justice,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Pam Karlan of the Civil Rights Division. “Every person should feel secure knowing they have the right to own and use their property free from being targeted because of their race or religion. We will continue to protect the civil rights of all individuals and vigorously prosecute bias motivated crimes.”

“Americans should never have to fear racist, anti-Semitic or any other form of bias-motivated violence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig for the District of New Jersey. “This defendant encouraged hateful acts of violence against individuals and their houses of worship, based solely on their religion or the color of their skin. Together with our colleagues in the Civil Rights Division and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, this office will continue to work every day to identify individuals like him and bring them swiftly to justice.”

“The FBI and our partners simply won’t tolerate crimes spurred by hate, which are meant to intimidate and isolate the groups targeted,” said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia Division. “People of all races and faiths deserve to feel safe in their communities. Richard Tobin encouraged others to victimize innocent people, in furtherance of his abhorrent white supremacist beliefs. While we all have the right to believe whatever we want, when those views lead to violence, that’s a different and dangerous story.”

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Tobin admitted that from Sept. 15 to Sept. 23, 2019, he was a member of a white supremacist group, “The Base,” and during that time, he communicated online with other members and directed them to destroy and vandalize properties affiliated with African Americans and Jewish Americans. Tobin dubbed this coordinated attack “Kristallnacht,” or “Night of Broken Glass,” after an attack in Germany on Nov. 9 and 10, 1938, in which Nazis murdered Jewish people and burned and destroyed Jewish homes, synagogues, stores and schools. Tobin implored members of The Base to post propaganda flyers and to break windows and slash tires belonging to African Americans and Jewish Americans. On Sept. 21, 2019, members of The Base vandalized synagogues in Racine, Wisconsin, and Hancock, Michigan, by spray painting them with hate symbols. 

A conspirator, Yousef Omar Barasneh, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy against rights in federal court in the Eastern District of Wisconsin, for his role in vandalizing the synagogue in Racine, Wisconsin.   

The conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greater.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kristen M. Harberg of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Camden and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Section.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Briefs Reporters on Defensive Precision Strike

 Feb. 25, 2021

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SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: I know that -- that Mr. Kirby has provided you with information on the strike that we conducted this evening and there's not much more that I will be able to add at this point, other than the fact that we're confident that the target we went after we know it was hit, and we're confident that that target was being used by the same Shia militia that -- that conducted the -- the strikes.

And so you'll get more information in terms of the effects of the strikes, as times goes by, but I just wanted to make sure that I gave you that viewpoint from me, that level of confidence that there is connectivity.

And -- and so, we're very deliberate about our approach, as you would expect us to be. We allowed and encouraged the Iraqis to investigate and develop intelligence, and that was very helpful to us in refining the target.

And let me just finally say that I'm really proud of the men and women in our force who carried out the strike. As you would expect, they performed in a very professional manner, and we're grateful for their service.

Q: Can you say why this was important to do, Mr. Secretary? And was this your recommendation?

SEC. AUSTIN: It was my recommendation. We've said a number of times we will respond and -- you know, on our timeline. Once again, we want to be sure of the connectivity, we want to make sure that we had the right target.

Q: When did the president authorize the strikes? When did the president authorize the strikes? Were you on the phone with him?

SEC. AUSTIN: It was today, yes. 

Q: It was today? Was it this morning when you were delayed?

SEC. AUSTIN: Yes, it was this morning.

Q: Where were you (inaudible)...

SEC. AUSTIN: That's all I'm going to say.

Q: All right. Thank you.

Acting Deputy Attorney General John Carlin Delivers Remarks on Domestic Terrorism Washington, DC

Remarks as Delivered

Thank you, Marc.  Before I begin, I’d like to address an important issue: the reports of horrific attacks on Asian Americans across the country.  I want to be clear here: No one in America should fear violence because of who they are of what they believe.  Period.  These types of attacks have no place in our society.  We will not tolerate any form of domestic terrorism or hate-based violent extremism, and we are committed to putting a stop to it.

I want to thank you for taking the time to be with us today.  It’s good see familiar names and for those of you I don’t know yet, I look forward to meeting and working with you in the days and weeks to come.  

I am pleased to be joined today by my good friend and law school classmate, Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers; and FBI Assistant Director for Counterterrorism Jill Sanborn.  I have known Jill as well for years.  I even worked with her when I was at the Department before.  She is hard-nosed, detail-oriented, and I can’t imagine someone better suited for the job.  She is the first woman to hold the position, and it’s a well-deserved promotion after a long and successful career with the Bureau, both in the Counterterrorism Division and in the field.

Today, I am going to discuss briefly the Department’s enhanced response to domestic violent extremism and domestic terrorism, and then I am going to turn the stage over to Jill and John to provide additional remarks and take some questions.

When I left the Department as Assistant Attorney General for National Security in October of 2016, the threat from violent extremists, both international and domestic, was rising.

But, I never expected that just over four years later, when I returned to the Justice Department to be sworn in on my first day as Acting Deputy Attorney General, that to get to the building, I would have to pass through numerous checkpoints under escort of armed agents in a city under lockdown.  I never expected to have to walk through the Department of Justice hallways filled with hundreds of soldiers positioned to protect the Department from terrorists.  But I did. 

Our mission is simple.  That is not acceptable, that is not America, and it will not happen again.

The first briefing that I received in my new job was about the effort to bring the perpetrators of the January 6 attacks to justice and prevent future violent attacks. 

The investigation into those responsible is moving at a speed and scale that is unprecedented, and rightly so.  Those responsible must be held to account, and they will be.

I receive daily updates on the Capitol case investigation, at least daily.  And as of last night, over 300 individuals have been charged in connection with the events of January 6th, and over 280 have been arrested.

Just this week, I had an opportunity to spend more than an hour with members of the prosecution team.  They are committed, they are determined, and they will keep us safe from the threat of violent extremism.

The threat, of course, is bigger than any one event, no matter how horrific.  It can include not just efforts to disrupt our government — like those on January 6 — but also efforts to intimidate or terrorize our neighbors and members of our community based only on who they are and what they look like.  And as I mentioned at the top, all we need to do is look at recent footage from New York and California to see those horrific attacks directed at Asian Americans, to realize how dire the threats are.  We must return to an America where no one fears violence because of who they are or what they believe. 

To do so, we must make it known that the Department of Justice is prioritizing the detection, the disruption, and deterrence of the threat of domestic terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms.  Now, this is something, as with challenges in the past, that we can’t do alone, but we have to do with partners, particularly our partners in state and local law enforcement.  Together, we will tirelessly pursue justice for all of victims of violent extremism.  Judge Garland made that clear this week during his confirmation hearing, and I want to reiterate it today.

While the rise of domestic violent extremism is a serious and growing public safety and national security threat, unfortunately violence motivated by extremism, hate, intolerance, and racism has been a persistent and tragic occurrence throughout American history.

Our Department of Justice was formed to bring justice, and that means battling terrorists, extremists, and hate.  That has been true since its beginning, when our first Attorney General led efforts to protect our country from the threat of white supremacists, successfully prosecuting hundreds of cases against members of the Ku Klux Klan.

Today, with the threat persistent and evolving, the Justice Department is keenly focused on how we can meet this moment.

Fortunately, both Judge Garland and Lisa Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General nominee, have significant experience leading the Department’s efforts on domestic terrorism matters, and the Department’s dedicated career agents and prosecutors will continue to work around the clock to disrupt the threat and keep Americans safe.

Before turning it over to John and Jill, I wanted to talk about three specific commitments we are making in this area: following the data and intelligence, protecting civil liberties and taking an all tools approach.
 

FOLLOWING DATA AND INTELLIGENCE

On the first, we will confront this challenge, as we have for years since September 11, using an intelligence-led, threat-driven approach grounded in data and intelligence assessments of career experts.  

The Department’s approach will be informed by the comprehensive threat assessment examining domestic terrorism that President Biden has asked the Director of National Intelligence to undertake, in coordination with the FBI and others in the intelligence community. 

The National Security Council is also seeking to determine, how can the government better share information, support efforts to prevent radicalization, disrupt violent extremist networks, and more?

The Department is participating in that process across a broad range of components – including not just our National Security Division, who you will hear from today, and our Criminal Division, but also the Civil Rights Division, the Tax Division, the Office of Justice Programs and the Bureau of Prisons.

As part of our data-driven response to domestic terrorism, we plan to issue updated guidance in the coming days that will help make sure the National Security Division has insight into, and can track, all cases with a nexus to domestic terrorism or domestic violent extremism.

We know that information developed in one investigation may be the key to saving lives because of another district’s investigation thousands of miles away. 

Information-sharing allows all of us to anticipate legal and practical questions before they emerge and maximizes our ability to collectively respond to present and emerging domestic threats, no matter where they arise.

By collecting this data, we will be in a stronger position to take an empirical, evidenced-based approach to domestic terrorism across our work. 

 

PROTECTING OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES

Our second commitment is to be steadfast in maintaining our commitment to civil liberties. 

The FBI, as you will hear, very deliberately uses the term “domestic violent extremism” in this area to emphasize that FBI investigations must be predicated on criminal violence and other criminal conduct – never on someone’s First Amendment beliefs or associations.

 

TAKING AN ALL-TOOLS APPROACH

Our third commitment is to take an “all-tools” approach to combatting domestic terrorism – just as we have with other significant national security threats.

The term “all-tools approach” was used often during my time at the FBI and the National Security Division as we developed and described a new approach to address international terrorism and national security cyber threats.

This approach recognizes that success is not the prosecution of a violent extremist or terrorist after the fact, when families have lost loved ones or are grieving, but that success is the disruption before violence occurs, and that always has to be the goal of our counterterrorism work

Since starting back at the Department, I have convened the Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee, an interagency group started after the Oklahoma City bombing. In fact, it was a group that was scheduled to meet on the morning of September 11. It did not meet that day and our focus turned, for a period of time, to international terrorism.  But as we’ve seen the growth of domestic terrorism dating back, really, to 2014, 2015, that the DTEC has been reconstituted as a way to share information across departments and agencies.

I have also convened and met with the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Coordinators – a group of specially trained AUSAs in every office across the country.  That group was created after the events of September 11.  They are the focal point in the field to work with partners to prevent terrorist acts and to hold accountable those who commit them.  Through those efforts, we can best leverage tools from across the government and across the country.

We also partner with state and local law enforcement through structures such as the Joint Terrorism Task Forces, or JTTF, to help us reach cases where federal charges are not available. 

 

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, I know we will cover a lot today, and I wish I could spend more time with you, but we look forward to engaging with you on this topic regularly.  It is and will remain my top priority at the Department.  And, as you heard from Judge Garland, he intends for it to be the first briefing that he receives when confirmed.

I encourage you to share with our Public Affairs staff what would be most helpful for you as you cover this important topic.  What issues do you want briefings on?  I’m instructed to say no promises, but what statistics would you like to see that we don’t have access to?

Again, thank you very much for joining us today.  I know that this can be a complex topic legally, and we want to make sure you have the information that you need to cover it accurately.  With that, I am going to turn the call over to Jill and John.

U.S. Conducts Defensive Airstrikes Against Iranian-backed Militia in Syria

 Feb. 25, 2021 | BY Jim Garamone , DOD News

American forces have struck at an Iranian-backed militia in Syria that launched rocket attacks against U.S. bases in Iraq, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby told reporters traveling with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin.

At President Joe Biden's direction, U.S. military forces, earlier this evening, launched airstrikes against infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in Eastern Syria. These strikes were authorized in response to recent attacks against U.S. and coalition personnel in Iraq, and to on-going threats to those personnel, Kirby said.

"There's not much more that I'll be able to add at this point other than the fact that we're confident in the target we went after, we know what we hit," the secretary of defense said. "We're confident that the target was being used by the same Shia militia that conducted the strikes."

According to the press secretary, the strikes destroyed multiple facilities located at a border control point used by a number of Iranian-backed militant groups including Kait'ib Hezbollah and Kait'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada. 

"We are very deliberative in our approach as you would expect us to be," Austin continued. "We allowed and encouraged the Iraqis to investigate and develop intelligence for us, and that was very helpful to us in refining the target."

This proportionate military response was conducted along with diplomatic measures, including consultation with coalition partners. The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and coalition personnel. At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in both Eastern Syria and Iraq, Kirby said.

"Let me say that I am very proud of the men and women in our force that carried out the strike. As you would expect, they performed in a very professional manner, and we are grateful for their service," Austin said.

U.S. Conducts Defensive Precision Strike

 Feb. 25, 2021

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(Attributable to Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby)

“At President Biden’s direction, U.S. military forces earlier this evening conducted airstrikes against infrastructure utilized by Iranian-backed militant groups in eastern Syria. These strikes were authorized in response to recent attacks against American and Coalition personnel in Iraq, and to ongoing threats to those personnel. Specifically, the strikes destroyed multiple facilities located at a border control point used by a number of Iranian-backed militant groups, including Kait’ib Hezbollah (KH) and Kait’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS).

This proportionate military response was conducted together with diplomatic measures, including consultation with Coalition partners. The operation sends an unambiguous message: President Biden will act to protect American and Coalition personnel. At the same time, we have acted in a deliberate manner that aims to de-escalate the overall situation in both eastern Syria and Iraq.”

Iraqi Government Examines In-Country Missile Attacks on U.S. Bases

 Feb. 23, 2021 | BY C. Todd Lopez , DOD News

The Iraqi government is investigating three attacks on U.S. bases in the country and is doing a careful and complete job, Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby said.

"We had a very good discussion with our Iraqi partners a couple of weeks ago, in the wake of the Irbil attacks," Kirby told reporters today. "They made it very clear to the [secretary of defense] that they're taking this seriously, and they want the chance to investigate it for themselves ... we're going to let them do that."

The attack in Irbil killed a U.S. contractor and wounded a service member and others, while the attack in Baghdad's Green Zone caused property damage. In addition, an attack at Balad Air Base wounded personnel.

Despite the suspicions about the source of the weapons used and who backed those responsible, Kirby said the attacks remain unrelated to any diplomatic activities that may be happening between the U.S. and Iran.

"This has nothing to do with ... any diplomatic efforts that may or may not be happening," he said. "It has to do with trying to make sure we judge accountability the right way. And that's what the secretary wants to give our Iraqi partners the time and space to do."

Despite that commitment, Kirby said the Defense Department is aware of the threat Iran continues to pose in the region.

"Nobody's backing away from the significant security challenges that Iran still poses, ... and we've not been bashful about that at all," he said. "And nobody also is in a rush to judgment here on these particular attacks ... historically, we have seen these attacks from Shia-backed militias on our facilities, our people, and those of the Iraqis, as well, being conducted with weaponry, rockets that have Iranian origin."

Kirby said the department has concerns Iranians are using proxies in the Middle East to create insecurity and instability in the region. "Their malign activities in the region are a matter of record," he said. "And nothing has changed about our desire to be able to address those malign activities in the appropriate way."

NATO Defense Leaders Agree to Increase Iraqi Mission, Defer Decision on Afghanistan

 Feb. 18, 2021 | BY Jim Garamone , DOD News

Alliance defense ministers have agreed to raise the number of troops for the NATO Mission in Iraq from 500 to 4,000, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during a virtual news conference today.

The secretary general spoke at the end of the alliance Defense Ministerial. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III participated in the virtual meeting for the United States.

Stoltenberg said the ministers also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and the progress of the peace process. The U.S.-Taliban Agreement calls for withdrawal by May 1 if conditions are met. 

"We are faced with many dilemmas, and there are no easy options," Stoltenberg said. "At this stage, we have made no final decision on the future of our presence. But as the first of May deadline is approaching, NATO allies will continue to closely consult and coordinate in the coming weeks."

Spotlight: NATO

The NATO allies remain committed to the support mission, which has been instrumental in forging a combat ready Afghan military and competent police, he said. 

The secretary general stressed that the NATO allies will make decisions together. "I also very much welcome the very clear message from Secretary Austin, who made it very clear that the United States is going to continue to consult with NATO allies, and continue to make sure that we are coordinated as we move forward in Afghanistan," he said.

With the May 1 deadline approaching, Stoltenberg called on the Taliban to live up to its commitments in the peace agreement to reduce violence, disown terrorist groups and negotiate honestly with the Afghan government. "The peace process is the best chance to end years of suffering and violence and bring lasting peace," he said. "It is important for the Afghan people for the security of the region and for our own security."

He called on all sides to re-energize the peace process. "NATO's goal is to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists that would attack our homelands, so allies will continue to assess together the conditions on the ground," Stoltenberg said. "As we do, the protection of our troops remains paramount, and we will take all necessary measures to keep them safe."

In Iraq, the training mission will expand in personnel and geographically beyond Baghdad. "Our presence is conditioned-based, and increases in troop numbers will be incremental," Stoltenberg said. 

The decision came about as part of a request by Iraqi officials. Stoltenberg said he spoke personally to Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi assuring him that "everything will be done in full consultation with Iraqi authorities."

The move is also being done in consultation with the nations of the global coalition to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Canada has led the training mission for the past two years and just turned the command over to Denmark.

Middletown Man Pleads Guilty In Federal Court To Use Of Incendiary Device At Newark Planned Parenthood

 WILMINGTON, Del. – A Middletown man pleaded guilty in federal court on February 11, 2021, to Intentional Damage to a Facility that Provides Reproductive Health Services and Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device (Molotov Cocktail) under the National Firearms Act.  The Honorable Leonard P. Stark, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the District of Delaware, accepted the plea.

According to court documents, at approximately 2:16 a.m., on January 3, 2020, Samuel Gulick, 19, drove to the Planned Parenthood facility in Newark, Delaware.  Video surveillance captured Gulick standing on the front porch of the building and spray-painting the phrase “Deus Vult” in red letters. Gulick then stepped off the front porch, lit an object, and threw it at the front window of the Planned Parenthood facility. The object, a Molotov Cocktail, exploded and Gulick ran away. The fire burned for approximately one minute before self-extinguishing. The explosion damaged the front window and porch of the building. Law enforcement identified Gulick through video surveillance that captured the license plate of the car in which he fled and through an Instagram page registered to Gulick, containing the phrase “Deus Vult” and several anti-abortion posts.

Gulick pleaded guilty to Intentional Damage to a Facility that Provides Reproductive Health Services and Possession of an Unregistered Destructive Device under the National Firearms Act.  He faces a statutory maximum of 10 years in prison.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 2, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Chief Judge Stark will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney David C. Weiss stated, “Mr. Gulick’s actions had potentially deadly consequences. I applaud the investigative efforts of local, state, and federal law enforcement who worked quickly to identify and bring Mr. Gulick to justice.”  

"While people have a First Amendment right to peacefully express their views, they do not have a right to vandalize clinics in the hopes of deterring women from receiving lawful services that those facilities provide," said Jennifer C.  Boone, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Baltimore Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will hold those accountable for any threats of violence to healthcare facilities or their employees."

“ATF and our law enforcement partners will not tolerate violent attacks from those seeking to achieve personal political goals,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Tim Jones. “We are proud of investigators’ efforts and dedication to identify the person responsible in this case and are grateful that no one was injured as a result of this defendant’s criminal actions.”

The FBI Baltimore Division's Wilmington Resident Agency investigated the matter with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF:), Delaware State Police, Newark Police Department, Delaware State Fire Marshal's Office, New Castle County Police Department and University of Delaware Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Adrienne Dedjinou is prosecuting the case. 

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 21-cr-01.

Guantanamo Periodic Review Board Media Invitation Announced

 Feb. 12, 2021

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The Department of Defense will allocate seats for news media at the Pentagon satellite viewing location on February 23, to cover unclassified portions of the Guantanamo Periodic Review Board for Uthman Abd al-Rahim Muhammad Uthman (ISN - 027).

Due to limited space availability, selection is not guaranteed. Upon selection, additional information on meeting time and location will be provided.

Media desiring to observe the hearing should send requests via email to osd.pentagon.pa.mbx.gtmo-press@mail.mil.

All requests must be received no later than noon ET February 18. Media members should include their name, position, sponsoring organization and contact information (cell phone and email address) in their request. Multiple names from the same organization may be submitted.

Further information, including media ground rules, can be viewed at the Periodic Review Secretariat website at http://www.prs.mil.

DHS and Partners Coordinate to Secure Super Bowl LV

 TAMPA – David Pekoske, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, this week met with local law enforcement officials and the National Football League (NFL) to review Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations to help ensure the safety and security of employees, players, and fans during Super Bowl LV. Dozens of federal agencies and components, including DHS, are contributing to security measures seen and unseen in connection with the Super Bowl.

“While the football teams are on the field, we will be all around it,” Pekoske said. “In addition to the outstanding efforts of the Tampa Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and the NFL Security Team, more than 500 DHS personnel will be working to secure the Super Bowl on Sunday. This is truly a collaborative effort.” As with past Super Bowls, this event was voluntarily submitted to DHS for a risk assessment and was classified as Special Event Assessment Rating (SEAR) Level 1—meaning that it requires extensive federal interagency support. Not only is the Super Bowl an attractive target for terrorists and domestic violent extremists, but it also presents opportunities for human trafficking, the sale of counterfeit goods, and other criminal activities. DHS is working with state and local partners and the NFL on a variety of efforts to secure Super Bowl LV, including: ·        Federal Coordination of the extensive interagency effort led by Scott McCallister, Regional Director within the DHS Office of Intelligence & Analysis. ·        Security Assessment and training to state and local law enforcement, local hotels, and others to help them identify potential risks and take steps needed to address them. ·        “If You See Something, Say Something” public awareness campaign boosting its visibility in the Tampa area through efforts like billboards and targeted social media to encourage public vigilance and reporting of suspected instances of terrorism. ·        “Blue Campaign” anti-human trafficking awareness and education program boosting its visibility in the Tampa area, including partnering with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association to promote resources and coordinating with the Tampa International Airport to train airport staff. ·        Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) providing cybersecurity, physical security, and emergency communications support, including conducting active shooter preparedness workshops and counter-IED awareness trainings for local governments and businesses. ·        S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)providing extensive air and maritime security, tactical operations support, and on-site cargo screening capabilities to secure areas surrounding Super Bowl LV events; and boosting its targeted efforts to seize counterfeit merchandise related to the Super Bowl. ·        ICE-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) working to identify criminal organizations involved in human trafficking and those seeking to profit from the sale of counterfeit goods. ·        Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) providing biological, radiological, and nuclear detection technologies and subject matter experts to detect and prevent potential threats. ·        The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordinating on consequence management planning. ·        Transportation Security Administration (TSA) increasing its security posture at all Tampa area airports and surging resources—including Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) Teams and TSA-handled K9 teams— to augment law enforcement capabilities. ·        Secret Service (USSS) working with local law enforcement to secure the event through a variety of measures including extensive planning, preventive measures, support to security operations, and emergency preparedness. ·        S. Coast Guard (USCG) providing maritime security assets to help secure South Florida’s waterways. ·        Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) sharing information and intelligence with partners in order to help identify and pre-empt any foreign or domestic threats. ·        Science and Technology Directorate (S&T)-developed tools will be used by various DHS components supporting Super Bowl security to enhance coordination and collaboration among response teams. ·        Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) working with federal, state and local public safety and critical infrastructure partners to safeguard and secure information sharing for the event. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, all DHS employees supporting security efforts will utilize approved COVID-19 protective measures.

Former Gainesville Resident Arrested For Attempting To Provide Material Support To ISIS

 GAINESVILLE – A former resident of Gainesville, Florida, was recently expelled from a foreign country and returned to the United States by the FBI for prosecution. Mohamed Fathy Suliman, age 33, a U.S. citizen, is charged in a criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support, including personnel (himself) and services, to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. It is alleged that Suliman left Gainesville, Florida, travelled to Turkey, and attempted to enter Syria illegally in 2014 in an effort to join and support ISIS. Lawrence Keefe, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, announced the arrest.

“This arrest resulted from years of work and coordination by our prosecutors and FBI agents from the Jacksonville Field Office,” said U.S. Attorney Keefe. “Terrorists and would-be terrorists need to understand that no resource will be spared when it comes to protecting U.S. citizens and prosecuting those who seek to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations.”

According to the criminal complaint, Suliman made a one-way flight reservation in June 2014, from Orlando, Florida, to Alexandria, Egypt, with stops in Chicago, Illinois, and Istanbul, Turkey. Suliman initiated his travel on June 12, 2014, but when he arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, rather than traveling on to Egypt, Suliman paid cash for a one-way airline ticket to the Turkish/Syrian border town of Gaziantep, Turkey.

On June 14, 2014, Suliman was arrested by Turkish authorities for illegally crossing into Syria from Turkey. According to the criminal complaint, during an interview of Suliman by an FBI agent in 2018, Suliman stated that he had researched how to get to Syria, and had purchased the plane ticket to Egypt to disguise his true travel plans from family and others. Suliman also allegedly admitted that he purchased the airline ticket to Gaziantep, Turkey, with cash to avoid creating an electronic record of the purchase. Suliman went on to admit that he attempted to enter Syria and was arrested by Turkish authorities.

“This case illustrates the FBI’s steadfast commitment to protecting Americans from threats posed by violent terrorist organizations and those who attempt to provide them with material support,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “The FBI Jacksonville Joint Terrorism Task Force will never waiver in our efforts to identify and bring to justice those who threaten our national security by assisting foreign terrorist organizations and promoting violent extremism.”

Turkey is known to be a primary pathway used by foreign fighters aspiring to join ISIS forces in Syria, due to the land border shared by the two countries. Like others, Suliman allegedly disguised his intentions from his family by only telling them he planned to travel to Egypt. According to the complaint, Suliman's actions are consistent with those of other individuals who have sought to join ISIS and crossed from Turkey into Syria at the Kilis border crossing, after traveling to Gaziantep.

According to the criminal complaint, a search of an email account subscribed to by Suliman revealed approximately 36 email attachments that contained various audio files that consisted of messages calling for jihad, justifications for jihad, rewards for those who participate in jihad and martyrdom, and that encouraged fighting against the crusaders, infidels (non-Muslims), and those that insult the Prophet Muhammad. The email attachments were dated from May 2009 through October 2012. The criminal complaint also alleges that in both August and December of 2014, Suliman’s Facebook account displayed an ISIS profile photo featuring the black flag that is ISIS’s symbol.

If convicted, Suliman faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. Suliman’s initial appearance is scheduled for this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville.

This arrest resulted from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen M. Kunz is prosecuting this case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation by a sworn affiant that a defendant has committed a violation of federal criminal law and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to due process, to include a fair trial, during which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida is one of 94 offices that serve as the nation’s principal litigators under the direction of the Attorney General.  To access available public court documents online, please visit the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida website.  For more information about the United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Florida, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/fln/index.html.

Press Release - U.S. v. Suliman

Complaint - U.S. v. Suliman

Complaint Seeks Forfeiture of Iranian Oil Aboard Tanker Based on Connection to Terror Group

 The United States filed a forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that all oil aboard a Liberian-flagged vessel, the M/T Achilleas (Achilleas), is subject to forfeiture based on U.S. terrorism forfeiture laws.

The complaint alleges a scheme involving multiple entities affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to covertly ship Iranian oil to a customer abroad. Participants in the scheme attempted to disguise the origin of the oil using ship-to-ship transfers, falsified documents, and other means, and provided a fraudulent bill of lading to deceive the owners of the Achilleas into loading the oil in question. 

The complaint alleges in part that the oil constitutes the property of, or a “source of influence” over, the IRGC and the IRGC-QF, both of which have been designated by the United States as foreign terrorist organizations. The documents allege that profits from oil sales support the IRGC’s full range of nefarious activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and a variety of human rights abuses, at home and abroad.

“The forfeiture complaint filed today serves as a reminder that the IRGC and IRGC-QF continue to exert significant control over the sale of Iranian oil,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the National Security Division. “As we have demonstrated in the past, the department will deploy all tools at its disposal to ensure that the IRGC and IRGC-QF cannot use profits from the sale of Iranian oil to fund terrorism and other activities that threaten the safety and security of all Americans.”

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will continue working with our law enforcement partners to stem the flow of illicit oil from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Qods Force,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin. “We will use all available tools, including our jurisdiction to seize and forfeit assets located abroad, to combat funding for terrorists and those who would do harm to the United States.”

“This latest civil forfeiture action exemplifies the remarkable work of this multi-agency task force that works tirelessly toward furthering our shared goal of protecting the homeland from regimes that threaten our national security,” said Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York. “This investigation sends a message that the attempted circumvention of U.S. sanctions by the IRGC-QF will not be tolerated. HSI will continue to work with our partners and utilize the full scope of our authorities to disrupt the attempts of hostile countries and regimes to generate profits from oil sales used to support terrorism and the proliferation and delivery of weapons of mass destruction.”

“Iran uses profits from its petroleum sector to fund the malign activities of the IRGC-QF, a designated terrorist group,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael F. Paul of the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office. “The FBI will continue to prioritize the enforcement of sanctions, and we applaud the efforts of our agents and partners on this investigation.”  

A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The United States bears the burden of proving that the oil in question is subject to forfeiture in a civil forfeiture proceeding. Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (http://www.usvsst.com/) after the conclusion of the case.

HSI New York and the FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office are leading the investigation of Iranian petroleum shipments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Grady and Brian P. Hudak of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney David Lim of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section’s Program Operations Staff of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division has provided extensive assistance throughout the investigation.

Alejandro Mayorkas Sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security

WASHINGTON – Today, Alejandro Mayorkas was officially sworn in as the seventh Secretary of Homeland Security. Secretary Mayorkas took the oath this afternoon after the Senate voted to confirm him. As Secretary of Homeland Security, Mayorkas now leads the third largest federal department in the United States, which includes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the United States Secret Service. “DHS bears an extraordinary weight on behalf of the American people, the weight of grave challenges seen and unseen,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “It is the greatest privilege of my life to return to the Department to lead the men and women who dedicate their talent and energy to the safety and security of our nation. I will work every day to ensure that they have the tools they need to execute their missions with honor and integrity. The mission of the Department of Homeland Security is to safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values. The United States is a welcoming and empathetic nation, one that finds strength in its diversity. I pledge to defend and secure our country without sacrificing these American values.” Secretary Mayorkas is the first immigrant to serve in the role of DHS Secretary.  His parents arrived with him and his sister to the United States as refugees after fleeing Cuba in 1960. Secretary Mayorkas previously served as the DHS Deputy Secretary from 2013 to 2016. Prior to holding that position, he was the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the agency charged with operating the largest immigration system in the world.