INDIANA
A federal judge on Monday sentenced Marlonn Hicks, 31, of Crown Point, Indiana, to 15 years in prison for spreading information about how to make explosives to be used for violent crimes, according to officials.
“The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting terrorist threats against our homeland,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers. “The defendant plotted to conduct an attack on U.S. soil and, with today’s sentence, he is being held accountable for his actions. I applaud the efforts of the agents and prosecutors to achieve this successful outcome. Their work will ensure that the actions of the defendant, inspired by evil, will serve only as a cautionary tale for other would-be terrorists.”
Within days of the Pulse nightclub shooting June 12 in Orlando, Fla., in which Omar Mateen killed 50 people, the Chicago Tribute reported that “Hicks indicated that he would likely die in the U.S. and subsequently discussed the means by which he planned to carry out an attack within the U.S, the release said. During one of these online communications, Hicks sent a government source a document containing detailed instructions on how to make explosives, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.”
“This exemplifies the Government’s commitment to prevent terrorism,” said U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch of Indiana. “Rather than mourning the tragic attacks in Orlando, Hicks was inspired to try to commit a terror attack to kill innocent victims in the United States. “
“The online communications by Mr. Hicks drew swift attention from our agents, who had identified and monitored him early in his path to radicalization,” said Special Agent in Charge Mendenhall. “As this radicalization deepened, the FBI continued to monitor Mr. Hicks’ activity and took action to mitigate any threats ensuring the public’s safety.”
According to the evidence, Hicks rapidly transformed from a vocal online supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, to someone planning a terrorist act.
Within days of the Orlando, Florida Pulse Nightclub terrorist attack, Hicks was inspired to commit an act of terrorism and kill innocent civilians.
On June 21, 2016, nine days after the Pulse massacre, Hicks discussed “getting busy” with a FBI source who Hicks believed was an ISIS supporter.
Hicks sent this source two manuals on how to manufacture and use explosives and poisons and continued to discuss with this FBI source possible terror attacks.
Hicks made his motivation for the planned attacks clear, exclaiming that since the FBI and similar government personnel “have shut the door now [on his ability to travel to ISIS-controlled territory and fight there] I’m gonna open the door to hell for them.”
As he began to develop an attack plan, in addition to sending the above-referenced manuals, he discussed coordinating attacks to create “more of an audience.”
Hicks also discussed how to obtain firearms and practice with them. Hicks clearly communicated to multiple sources and during his post-arrest interview that he wanted everyone to know the attacks were carried out in the name of ISIS.
During FBI surveillance, Hicks warned one of the FBI sources to “be careful the boys was just following me” referring to the ongoing FBI surveillance.
During a message exchange with the FBI source Hicks said he was “strapped,” showed a picture of his firearm, and said “if they had me on anything I’d already be dead cause in Shaa Allah [translated as “god willing”] I ain’t going to jail.”
Hicks was arrested on federal charges without incident in July 2016 and has remained in federal custody since his arrest.