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| Photo Credit: AP. |
A New Mexico man, Herman Leyvoune Wilson was Tuesday indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State terrorist group ISIS. The man also known as Bilal Mu’Min Abdullah was arrested Friday on charges relating to providing material support to the international terrorist group between January 23, 2020 and November 20, 2021, The Washington Times reports.
Wilson is
accused of attempting to create an “Islamic State Center” in New Mexico, aiming
to “teach ISIS ideology, provide training in tactical maneuvers and martial
arts, and serve as a safe haven for individuals preparing to travel and fight
on behalf of ISIS,” The Washington Times cited a statement from the Department
of Justice.
The terrorism
suspect is also accused of operating an online platform promoting ISIS
ideology, and is charged with obstruction and concealment of records after
shutting down the alleged platform.
Who did Wilson recruit into ISIS?
Wilson was
able to recruit two people – Texan Jaylin Molina and South Carolinian
Kristopher Matthews. The two pleaded guilty to charges of providing material
support to ISIS, and named Mr. Wilson as an ideological influence, according to
The Washington Times.
“Matthews
and Molina admitted that Wilson radicalized them to ISIS’s ideology, and that
without Wilson’s influence, they would never have committed the crimes. When
Matthews and Molina were arrested, Wilson allegedly instructed online platform
members to destroy evidence of their use of the group,” the Department of
Justice’s statement reads, according to The Washington Times.
The suspect
is also accused of holding meetings in Albuquerque to “rally pro-ISIS
individuals to jihad, further support, and possibly martyrdom” and discuss
“attacking law enforcement, acquiring firearms, killing imams who do not
support ISIS, and inspiring others to wage jihad,” according to a prosecutorial
motion cited by the Albuquerque Journal.
“We will not
tolerate threats to our country from terrorist organizations like ISIS. We will
vigorously prosecute anyone who attempts to provide material support to
terrorists,” said United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico
Alexander Uballez, according to The Washington Times.