NEW YORK – A U.S. Air Force veteran, Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh, who traveled from Egypt to Turkey to cross the border into Syria to join the terrorist group, ISIL, and fight in the jihad, was charged with helping a foreign terrorist group, officials said today.
Pugh, who was arrested Monday, is also charged with obstruction and attempted obstruction of justice, according to authorities.
“Born and raised in the United States, Pugh allegedly turned his back on his country and attempted to travel to Syria in order to join a terrorist organization,” said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch.
“We will continue to vigorously prosecute extremists, whether based here or abroad, to stop them before they are able to threaten the United States and its allies.”
“As alleged, Pugh, an American citizen, was willing to travel overseas and fight jihad alongside terrorists seeking to do us harm,” said Assistant Director in Charge Diego Rodriguez of the FBI’s New York Field Office. “U.S. citizens who offer support to terrorist organizations pose a grave threat to our national security and will face serious consequences for their actions.”
CNN reports that Pugh’s lawyer said his client plans to plead not guilty to the charges.
The defendant will be arraigned tomorrow, March 18 before U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York.
If convicted, Pugh is facing up to 35 years in prison.
As alleged in the complaint, indictment and other court filings, these are the allegations:
- The defendant served in the Air Force as an avionics instrument system specialist and received training in the installation and maintenance of aircraft engine, navigation and weapons systems.
- After leaving the Air Force, the defendant worked for a number of companies in the United States and Middle East as an avionics specialist and airplane mechanic.
- The defendant lived abroad for over a year before his arrest in this case.
- Earlier this year, weeks after being fired from his last job as an airplane mechanic based in the Middle East, the defendant attempted to join ISIL.
- On Jan. 10, 2015, the defendant traveled from Egypt to Turkey in an effort to cross the border into Syria to join ISIL and fight violent jihad.
- Turkish authorities denied the defendant entry, however, and sent him on a return flight to Egypt.
- Upon his arrival in Egypt, the defendant was carrying multiple electronic devices, including four USB thumb drives that had been stripped of their plastic casings and an iPod that had been wiped clean of data.
- The defendant also had a cellular telephone that contained, among other things, a photograph of a machine gun.
- The defendant was deported to the United States.
On Jan. 14, 2015, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force or JTTF – which comprises a large number of federal, state, and local agencies from the region – agents obtained a search warrant for the defendant’s electronic devices.
Among the things discovered by authorities in his laptop computer, among other things, include the following:
- Recent internet searches for “borders controlled by Islamic state”,
- Recent internet searches for “who controls kobani,” “kobani border crossing,” and “jarablus border crossing,” all references to Syrian cities under ISIL’s control near the Turkish border,
- A chart of crossing points between Turkey and Syria indicating the areas on the Syrian side of the border controlled by ISIL and other groups
- Internet searches for “Flames of War,” an ISIL propaganda video, as well as downloaded videos, including one showing ISIL members executing prisoners.
The defendant was arrested on Monday in Asbury Park, New Jersey. He has been in custody ever since, officials said.
After the defendant’s arrest, officials said Task Force agents got warrants to search two backpacks that the defendant had when he was overseas.
Agents recovered from the backpacks, among other things: two compasses, a solar-powered flashlight, a solar-powered power source, shards of broken USB thumb drives, a fatigue jacket and camping clothes.
“Pugh, an American citizen and former member of our military, allegedly abandoned his allegiance to the United States and sought to provide material support to ISIL,” said Assistant Attorney General John Carlin. “Identifying and bringing to justice individuals who provide or attempt to provide material support to terrorists is a key priority of the National Security Division.”