California Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, of Modesto, pleaded guilty today to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott for the Eastern District of California made the announcement.

According to the plea agreement filed, beginning in or around September 2017 until around Dec. 20, 2017, Jameson voiced support for ISIS, knowing that the organization was engaging in terrorist activity and terrorism.  Among other things, he had several online interactions with a confidential source, and during those interactions, he stated that he was committed wholeheartedly to “the cause.”  Jameson also expressed support on-line for the Oct. 31, 2017, terrorist attack in New York City, as well as other terrorist attacks.  In subsequent communications with an undercover agent, Jameson stated that he was ready to do whatever they need done here and noted that his time in the military had trained him for combat and things of war.  According to court documents, Jameson joined the Marine Corps and received basic training, including earning a sharpshooter rifle qualification, but was ultimately discharged for failing to disclose his asthma history.

Later, he met with another undercover agent whom he believed to be associated with, and working for, the senior leadership of ISIS and offered to carry out violent acts and provide financial support for the terrorist organization. Specifically, on Dec. 16, 2017, Jameson discussed what he could offer to the cause.  Among other things, Jameson stated that he was well versed in the Anarchist Cookbook, and explained his desire to use explosives in an attack.  He also noted that he could get PVC pipe, nails and powder for explosive devices, and asked for remote timing devices from that person.  Jameson identified Pier 39 as a target location of an attack, noting that it was crowded and explosives could be used to funnel people into an area so that he could inflict casualties by shooting people trying to escape.  Jameson also offered to provide money to the cause.

Jameson is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill on Sept. 4.  If the Court accepts the plea agreement, the parties have agreed that the defendant should be sentenced to 15 years in prison and a life term of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the FBI.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dawrence W. Rice Jr. and Christopher D. Baker of the Eastern District of California, and Trial Attorney Brenda Sue Thornton of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are in charge of the prosecution.