FLORIDA
A federal judge today sentenced brothers Raees Alam Qazi, 22, and Sheheryar Alam Qazi, 32, both naturalized U.S. citizens from Pakistan, to 35 years and 20 years in prison for terrorism and assaulting two deputy U.S. Marshals while in custody, federal officials said.
“With the sentences handed down today, Raees Qazi and his brother Sheheryar Qazi are being held accountable for their roles in a plot to conduct a terrorist attack using a weapon of mass destruction in New York City and their assault on two federal officers during their pretrial detention,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney General Carlin. “This case highlights our commitment to pursue any individuals who would seek to conduct an attack on U.S. soil or to injure law enforcement officials who risk their lives to protect us. I want to thank the U.S. Marshals, agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this successful result.”
On March 12, 2015, Raees Alam Qazi plead guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists in preparation for the use of a weapon of mass destruction, one count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and one count of conspiring to assault a federal employee.
Sherheyar Alam Qazi plead guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists in preparation for the use of a weapon of mass destruction and one count of conspiring to assault a federal employee.
This is the evidence against the brothers that was presented in federal court, according to authorities.
- Raees Alam Qazi was going to initiate an attack using a weapon of mass destruction in New York City and that he had been financially and emotionally supported by his older brother, Sheheryar Alam Qazi, who encouraged him to launch the attack.
- Sheheryar Alam Qazi had encouraged his younger brother to travel from Pakistan to Afghanistan in 2011, and that when Raees Alam Qazi had been unsuccessful in his attempt to enter Afghanistan, he returned to his older brother.
- Raees Alam Qazi had been trying to reach the “guys from Yemen” aka Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula on the internet and that they told him not to come to Afghanistan because there were enough people, but instead suggested they do something in the United States.
- Raees Alam Qazi had taken “hints” from an Arabian Peninsula online publication entitled Inspire Magazine, including building an explosive device using Christmas tree light bulbs.
- Raees Alam Qazi used information in Inspire to communicate with Arabian Peninsula, and that his communications with Al Qaeda dealt with his desires to launch an attack in the United States.
- Raees Alam Qazi travelled to New York in November 2012 to conduct an attack with a weapon of mass destruction while Sheheryar Alam Qazi actively misled friends and family members about Raees Alam Qazi’s true whereabouts and activities.
- Raees Alam Qazi called Sheheryar Alam Qazi from New York to notify him that he had not been successful in his task. Sheheryar Alam Qazi encouraged Raees Alam Qazi to return to “practice over here [Florida] then you may return [to New York] you know…. I will give you complete freedom.”
The brothers additionally admitted their participation in a conspiracy to assault federal officers.
On April 8, 2014, the Qazi brothers admitted that while being moved within the federal courthouse in Miami, the brothers punched two deputy U.S. Marshals in the face and struggled with them and attempted to use potentially lethal force on them.
Raees Alam Qazi and Sheheryar Alam Qazi simultaneously exclaimed “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic exhortation meaning “God is Great” while struggling with U.S. Marshals.
“The threat of a terrorist attack against innocent Americans is real as demonstrated by the actions of these two brothers,” said U.S. Marshal and Special Agent in Charge George Piro. “The fact that their terrorist aspirations were cut short didn’t stop Raees and Sheheryar Qazi from attempting to use potentially lethal force against two U.S. Marshals while they were in custody. This case highlights outstanding work and team effort of our South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force.”