RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA – Two men were found guilty Thursday of federal charges related to plots to provide material support to terrorists and to kill Americans, according to officials.
Following a 6½-week trial, a jury returned guilty verdicts against the two defendants, one a U.S. citizen and one who was residing in California on a “Green Card,” authorities said.
The two men convicted are Sohiel Omar Kabir, 36, a naturalized United States citizen who was born in Afghanistan and who until late 2011 resided in Pomona; and Ralph Deleon, 25, of Ontario, a lawful permanent resident and citizen of the Philippines.
The two defendants are each facing life without parole when they are sentenced in February.
“This case shows that the appeal of extremist ideologies can reach from Afghanistan to America, demonstrating the clear need for continued vigilance in rooting out homegrown violent extremists who plot terrorist acts both here and abroad,” said United States Attorney Stephanie Yonekura. “The fine work of the FBI agents, other members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the prosecutors on this case shows how we can identify, infiltrate and dismantle terrorist cells bent on striking America and the American military.”
Jurors found that Kabir and Deleon together were guilty in relation to two specific plots: conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and conspiring to kill officers and employees of the U.S. Government.
Also the jury found Kabir guilty of participating in two additional schemes: conspiring to provide material support and resources to Al-Qa’ida, a designated foreign terrorist organization; and conspiring to receive military-type training from Al-Qa’ida.
Deleon was additionally found guilty of conspiring to commit murder, kidnapping, or maiming overseas, for which he also faces a possible life sentence.
Two other defendants who were indicted in the case in 2012 – Miguel Alejandro Santana Vidriales and Arifeen David Gojali – previously pleaded guilty and are pending sentencing.
This is what the evidence at trial indicated, according to officials:
- Sohiel Omar Kabir introduced Deleon and Santana to radical Islamic ideology in 2010. Kabir left the United States in the final days of 2011, arriving in Afghanistan in July 2012.
- While in Afghanistan, Kabir continued to communicate with Santana and Deleon, encouraging them to join him in Afghanistan. Kabir told Santana and Deleon that he had made contacts with terrorist organizations, and, when they arrived, all three would join “the students” – the Taliban – and “the professors” – Al-Qa’ida, officials said.
- In February 2012, an FBI source met Deleon and Santana. They discussed radical Islamic views, and in the spring of 20112 Deleon revealed the plan to travel overseas to engage in “violent jihad,” which would include attacking American military personnel and bases. Deleon told the source he wanted to be on the front lines or use explosives, and Santana said he wanted to be a sniper.
- In Se ptember 2012, the evidence showed that Deleon and Santana recruited Gojali to join them and to travel overseas to commit violent jihad. Deleon, Santana and Gojali made plans to join Kabir in Afghanistan to engage in violent training.
- As part of their planning, Santana, Deleon and Gojali conducted training in southern California at firearms and paintball facilities to prepare for terrorist training overseas.
- Deleon, Santana and Gojali were arrested by the FBI on November 16, 2012 after leaving a Chino apartment. The three were planning to drive to Mexico, from where they would fly to Afghanistan. Kabir was taken into custody by American military personnel in Afghanistan.
In addition to the guilty verdicts, the jury acquitted Kabir of conspiring to commit murder, kidnapping, or maiming overseas.
The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on two charges against Deleon – conspiring to provide material support and resources to Al-Qa’ida, a designated foreign terrorist organization; and conspiring to receive military-type training from Al-Qa’ida.