FBI headquarters in Washington(Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, AP)
A 42-year-old New York man made his initial appearance Wednesday in federal court where he is charged with attempting to join the Islamic State terror organization, federal prosecutors said.
During two previous trips to the Syrian region in 2012 and 2014, prosecutors allege that Arafat Nagi of Lackawanna had amassed an array of military equipment, from an armored vest and combat boots to night vision goggles, in preparation to join the terror group.
Nagi's first trip to the region was apparently cut short by a gallbladder illness. Last year’s travel lasted two months, according to court documents. Following his return, a search of the suspect’s electronic communications allegedly revealed a stream of Tweets, texts and other posts that promoted ISIL activities.
In a series of more recent communications, Nagi on May 15 posted a photo of a beheading by ISIL fighters along with a caption: "Today, this filth has been killed..."
Three days later, he tweeted a photo of three severed heads and Arabic text, stating: "God is greatest. The three heads, those who dug their graves by their own hands.''
If convicted, Nagi faces a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
"Our continuing fight against international terrorism today returns to western New York," U.S. Attorney William Hochul said, in apparent reference to terror arrests in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. "Nagi pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and the leader of this terrorist organization. After buying military combat gear, he traveled twice to Turkey in an effort to help the group."
Hochul said the arrest and criminal charges ensure that Nagi "is no longer capable of achieving his goal of joining the most despicable group of our time."
Federal authorities credited community members with assisting investigators, saying that one unidentified local, who had been previously convicted of terror offenses, first alerted the FBI on Aug. 28<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to Nagi's alleged extremist rhetoric.
"The (Joint Terrorism Task Force) in Buffalo relies on community engagement...to deter recruitment and the spread of radicalization messages,'' said FBI Special Agent in Charge Brian Boetig. We continue to call upon people to contact law enforcement if they know of someone who has been influenced by ISIL rhetoric on social media – powerful propaganda that calls for followers to commit quick and unpredictable violent acts."
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