U.S. man pleads guilty to terrorism charges
February 10, 2011 KUNA 0 Comments
By KUNA
A U.S. man pleaded guilty Wednesday in a federal court in North Carolina to "conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons in a foreign country," the Justice Department announced.
The Justice Department said that Daniel Boyd, known as Saifullah, 40, was first charged along with seven other defendants in a federal indictment returned in July 2009. He was arrested the same month that year and the indictment was unsealed.
In September 2009, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment that added additional charges against Boyd and two of the other defendants.
According to the superseding indictment, "during the period from 1989 through 1992, Boyd traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan where he received military-style training in terrorist training camps for the purpose of engaging in violent jihad," and that following this training, according to the indictment, he fought in Afghanistan.
According to the indictment, from roughly November 2006 through at least July 2009, Boyd "conspired with the other defendants to provide material support and resources to terrorists, including currency, training, transportation and personnel."
"The defendants also conspired with others to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons abroad during this period," the Department added.
It indicated that "the object of the conspiracy, according to the indictment, was to advance violent jihad, including supporting and participating in terrorist activities abroad and committing acts of murder, kidnapping or maiming persons abroad."
The indictment further alleges that, "as part of the conspiracy, the defendants prepared themselves to engage in violent jihad and were willing to die as martyrs."
It noted that "they also allegedly offered training in weapons and financing, and helped arrange overseas travel and contacts so others could wage violent jihad overseas."
U.S. Attorney George Holding said in a statement that "this case proves how our world is changing." He affirmed that "terrorists are no longer only from foreign countries but also citizens who live within our own borders."
"We must protect our homeland. I am committed to using any and all legal means to take on the challenge of finding and prosecuting others with similar radical views who plot violent attacks," Holding remarked.
At sentencing, set for May 2011, Boyd faces "potential life in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for conspiring to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons in a foreign country and a potential 15 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists," according to the Justice Department.
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