New Jersey man pleads to terror conspiracy to support ISIL
NEWARK, N.J. — A New Jersey man pleaded in federal court Thursday to charges he conspired to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
This guilty plea resulted from an investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
Samuel Rahamin Topaz, 21, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring with others to provide services and personnel to ISIL. He remains detained without bail.
"The crimes Samuel Topaz admitted today threatened the safety of Americans here and abroad," said U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, of the District of New Jersey. "Our efforts to cut off the flow of fighters and resources to known terrorist organizations will not stop with his guilty plea. We have charges pending against his conspirators and remain vigilant against these terrorist operations."
"Samuel Rahamin Topaz conspired to provide material support to ISIL and sought to travel overseas with others to fight on behalf of the designated foreign terrorist organization," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin. "Counterterrorism is the National Security Division's highest priority, and we remain committed to stemming the flow of foreign fighters abroad and bringing to justice those who attempt to provide material support to terrorists."
"Samuel Topaz admitted to conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) today in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey," said Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel of the FBI's Newark Division. "Now Topaz will face up to 20 years in prison rather than take up arms overseas. Disrupting recruitment efforts by terrorist organizations and preventing acts of terror remains the FBI's number one priority, and due to the unflagging efforts of the Newark FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force this threat was eliminated. I ask the citizens of New Jersey to remain vigilant and contact the FBI if they see or hear something suspicious."
According to court records, Topaz admitted that prior to his arrest on June 17, 2015, by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (of which HSI is a member), he planned to travel overseas to join ISIL and had saved up money for that purpose. Topaz discussed plans to join ISIL with Nader Saadeh, Alaa Saadeh, and Munther Omar Saleh, and admitted that at various times each of them indicated that they wanted to join ISIL. Topaz also admitted they all watched ISIL-related videos, some of which depicted the execution of non-Muslims and other individuals regarded as apostates from Islam.
On May 5, 2015, Nader Saadeh departed the United States with plans to travel overseas to join ISIL as part of the conspiracy, according to Topaz's statements in court today. Topaz further admitted that he and others planned to travel overseas separately, meet up with Nader Saadeh, and then travel together to join ISIL. After Nader Saadeh left the United States, Topaz met with Munther Omar Saleh and contacted Alaa Saadeh to discuss those plans.
Topaz admitted knowing that ISIL was a designated terrorist organization and was taking over territory overseas, expelling non-Muslims from their homes, and executing individuals who did not obey ISIL's commands.
The count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 18, 2015.
Topaz' alleged conspirators are being prosecuted and are currently in federal custody. Nader Saadeh and Alaa Saadeh have been charged in separate criminal complaints brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey with conspiring to provide material support to ISIL, among other charges. Munther Omar Saleh has been indicted on terrorism-related charges brought by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. The charges and allegations against them are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Updated: