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Guilty Plea Unsealed in New York Involving Ahmed Warsame, a Senior Terrorist Leader and Liaison Between al Shabaab and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, for Providing Material Support to Both Terrorist Organizations
Warsame was al Shabaab’s Emissary to AQAP and Arranged for al Shabaab to Purchase Weapons Directly from AQAP
http://www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2013/guilty-plea-unsealed-in-new-york-involving-ahmed-warsame-a-senior-terrorist-leader-and-liaison-between-al-shabaab-and-al-qaeda-in-the-arabian-peninsula-for-providing-material-support-to-both-terrorist-organizations
U.S. Attorney’s Office March 25, 2013
Warsame, a Somali national in his mid-20s, was captured in the Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen by the U.S. military on April 19, 2011, and was questioned for intelligence purposes for more than two months. Thereafter, Warsame was read his Miranda rights, and, after waiving those rights, he spoke to law enforcement agents for several days. Warsame arrived in the Southern District of New York on July 5, 2011.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Bharara said, “The capture of Ahmed Warsame and his lengthy interrogation for intelligence purposes, followed by his thorough questioning by law enforcement agents, was an intelligence watershed. The handling of Warsame represents a seamless orchestration by our military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies that significantly furthered our ability to find, fight and apprehend those who wish to do us harm. Warsame’s capture, cooperation, and prosecution is a major victory for the United States, for its citizens and for justice.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Carlin said, “Ahmed Warsame served as a critical link between two foreign terrorist organizations and was an operational terrorist leader, commanding hundreds of fighters. His capture, successful interrogation, and guilty plea demonstrate how U.S. military, intelligence, and law enforcement assets coordinate to neutralize threats and protect the country. I thank all those responsible for this important operation.”
According to the indictment, Warsame’s sworn guilty plea allocution before Judge McMahon, and other public information:
From 2007 until April 2011, Warsame conspired with others, including American citizens, to provide material support to al Shabaab. He fought as a soldier on behalf of al Shabaab in Somalia in 2009 and provided other forms of support to the terrorist organization, including explosives, weapons, and training. In addition, Warsame possessed and used destructive devices, machine guns, and an AK-47 semi-automatic assault weapon in Somalia in support of al Shabaab.
Warsame also brokered a weapons deal, arranging for al Shabaab to purchase weapons directly from AQAP. From 2009 until April 2011, he conspired with others, including American citizens, to provide material support to AQAP in the form of money, training, communications equipment, and personnel. While Warsame was in Yemen in 2010 and 2011, he received weapons, explosives and other military-type training from the terrorist organization. In addition, he possessed and used grenades and an AK-47 semi-automatic assault weapon in Yemen in support of AQAP.
From 2010 until April 2011, Warsame conspired to teach and demonstrate the making of explosives and instruct other terrorists and would-be terrorists how to do so. Specifically, Warsame received training in explosives directly from members of AQAP, intending to share that training with al Shabaab when he returned to Somalia.
Warsame was captured at sea by the U.S. in April 2011 on his way back to Somalia from Yemen.
Al Shabaab was designated by the U.S. Department of State as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2008. AQAP was so designated in January 2010.
Warsame pleaded guilty to all nine counts of the indictment with which he was charged, and he faces the possibility of life in prison. The charges and maximum penalties are reflected in the below chart.
Mr. Bharara praised the extraordinary investigative work of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York Police Department. He also thanked the Department of Defense and the National Security Division of the Department of Justice.
This case is being handled by the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Naftalis, Adam S. Hickey, Sean S. Buckley, and Anna Skotko are in charge of the prosecution.
Statute
(Title 18)Count(s)DescriptionMaximum Penalty§
2339B
One
TwoConspiracy to provide material support to foreign terrorist organization and provision of material support to a foreign terrorist organization, causing death (al Shabaab)Life in prison§
924(c)
ThreeUse, carrying, and possession of firearms (machine guns and destructive devices) in furtherance of crimes of violence (counts one and two)Mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison (consecutive to any other term)
Maximum of life in prison§
2339B
Four
FiveConspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and provision of material support to a foreign terrorist organization (AQAP)15 years in prison§
924(c)
SixUse, carrying, and possession of firearms (machine guns and destructive devices) in furtherance of crimes of violence (counts four and five)Mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison (consecutive to any other term)
Maximum of life in prison*§
842(p), § 844(n) SevenConspiracy to teach and demonstrate the making of explosives20 years in prison§
2339D, § 371
EightConspiracy to receive military-type training from a foreign terrorist organizationFive years in prison§ 2339D
NineReceipt of military-type training from a foreign terrorist organization15 years in prison* A second 17 U.S.C. §
924(c) conviction in this context would carry a mandatory term of life in prison.
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Current List of Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations
1.Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB)
2.Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)
3.Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
4.Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMS)
5.Al-Shabaab
6.Ansar al-Islam (AAI)
7.Asbat al-Ansar
8.Aum Shinrikyo (AUM)
9.Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
10.Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA)
11.Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)
12.Gama’a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group)
13.HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
14.Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B)
15.Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM)
16.Hizballah (Party of God)
17.Islamic Jihad Union (IJU)
18.Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)
19.Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) (Army of Mohammed)
20.Jemaah Islamiya organization (JI)
21.Jemmah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT)
22.Kahane Chai (Kach)
23.Kata'ib Hizballah (KH)
24.Kongra-Gel (KGK, formerly Kurdistan Workers' Party, PKK, KADEK)
25.Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LT) (Army of the Righteous)
26.Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ)
27.Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
28.Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)
29.Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM)
30.Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK)
31.National Liberation Army (ELN)
32.Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)
33.Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
34.Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
35.PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC)
36.al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI)
37.al-Qa’ida (AQ)
38.al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
39.al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (formerly GSPC)
40.Real IRA (RIRA)
41.Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
42.Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N)
43.Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)
44.Revolutionary Struggle (RS)
45.Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso, SL)
46.United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)
47.Harakat-ul Jihad Islami (HUJI)
48.Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
49.Jundallah
50.Army of Islam (AOI)
51.Indian Mujahideen (IM)
Legal Ramifications of Designation
1. It is unlawful for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide "material support or resources" to a designated FTO. (The term "material support or resources" is defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(1) as " any property, tangible or intangible, or service, including currency or monetary instruments or financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, expert advice or assistance, safehouses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel (1 or more individuals who maybe or include oneself), and transportation, except medicine or religious materials.” 18 U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(2) provides that for these purposes “the term ‘training’ means instruction or teaching designed to impart a specific skill, as opposed to general knowledge.” 18 U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(3) further provides that for these purposes the term ‘expert advice or assistance’ means advice or assistance derived from scientific, technical
Explanation and location of each group at the link below at bottom of page:
http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2011/195553.htm
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.
Warsame was al Shabaab’s Emissary to AQAP and Arranged for al Shabaab to Purchase Weapons Directly from AQAP
http://www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2013/guilty-plea-unsealed-in-new-york-involving-ahmed-warsame-a-senior-terrorist-leader-and-liaison-between-al-shabaab-and-al-qaeda-in-the-arabian-peninsula-for-providing-material-support-to-both-terrorist-organizations
U.S. Attorney’s Office March 25, 2013
- Southern District of New York (212) 637-2600
Warsame, a Somali national in his mid-20s, was captured in the Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen by the U.S. military on April 19, 2011, and was questioned for intelligence purposes for more than two months. Thereafter, Warsame was read his Miranda rights, and, after waiving those rights, he spoke to law enforcement agents for several days. Warsame arrived in the Southern District of New York on July 5, 2011.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Bharara said, “The capture of Ahmed Warsame and his lengthy interrogation for intelligence purposes, followed by his thorough questioning by law enforcement agents, was an intelligence watershed. The handling of Warsame represents a seamless orchestration by our military, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies that significantly furthered our ability to find, fight and apprehend those who wish to do us harm. Warsame’s capture, cooperation, and prosecution is a major victory for the United States, for its citizens and for justice.”
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Carlin said, “Ahmed Warsame served as a critical link between two foreign terrorist organizations and was an operational terrorist leader, commanding hundreds of fighters. His capture, successful interrogation, and guilty plea demonstrate how U.S. military, intelligence, and law enforcement assets coordinate to neutralize threats and protect the country. I thank all those responsible for this important operation.”
According to the indictment, Warsame’s sworn guilty plea allocution before Judge McMahon, and other public information:
From 2007 until April 2011, Warsame conspired with others, including American citizens, to provide material support to al Shabaab. He fought as a soldier on behalf of al Shabaab in Somalia in 2009 and provided other forms of support to the terrorist organization, including explosives, weapons, and training. In addition, Warsame possessed and used destructive devices, machine guns, and an AK-47 semi-automatic assault weapon in Somalia in support of al Shabaab.
Warsame also brokered a weapons deal, arranging for al Shabaab to purchase weapons directly from AQAP. From 2009 until April 2011, he conspired with others, including American citizens, to provide material support to AQAP in the form of money, training, communications equipment, and personnel. While Warsame was in Yemen in 2010 and 2011, he received weapons, explosives and other military-type training from the terrorist organization. In addition, he possessed and used grenades and an AK-47 semi-automatic assault weapon in Yemen in support of AQAP.
From 2010 until April 2011, Warsame conspired to teach and demonstrate the making of explosives and instruct other terrorists and would-be terrorists how to do so. Specifically, Warsame received training in explosives directly from members of AQAP, intending to share that training with al Shabaab when he returned to Somalia.
Warsame was captured at sea by the U.S. in April 2011 on his way back to Somalia from Yemen.
Al Shabaab was designated by the U.S. Department of State as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2008. AQAP was so designated in January 2010.
Warsame pleaded guilty to all nine counts of the indictment with which he was charged, and he faces the possibility of life in prison. The charges and maximum penalties are reflected in the below chart.
Mr. Bharara praised the extraordinary investigative work of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which principally consists of agents from the FBI and detectives from the New York Police Department. He also thanked the Department of Defense and the National Security Division of the Department of Justice.
This case is being handled by the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin Naftalis, Adam S. Hickey, Sean S. Buckley, and Anna Skotko are in charge of the prosecution.
Statute
(Title 18)Count(s)DescriptionMaximum Penalty§
2339B
One
TwoConspiracy to provide material support to foreign terrorist organization and provision of material support to a foreign terrorist organization, causing death (al Shabaab)Life in prison§
924(c)
ThreeUse, carrying, and possession of firearms (machine guns and destructive devices) in furtherance of crimes of violence (counts one and two)Mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison (consecutive to any other term)
Maximum of life in prison§
2339B
Four
FiveConspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and provision of material support to a foreign terrorist organization (AQAP)15 years in prison§
924(c)
SixUse, carrying, and possession of firearms (machine guns and destructive devices) in furtherance of crimes of violence (counts four and five)Mandatory minimum of 30 years in prison (consecutive to any other term)
Maximum of life in prison*§
842(p), § 844(n) SevenConspiracy to teach and demonstrate the making of explosives20 years in prison§
2339D, § 371
EightConspiracy to receive military-type training from a foreign terrorist organizationFive years in prison§ 2339D
NineReceipt of military-type training from a foreign terrorist organization15 years in prison* A second 17 U.S.C. §
924(c) conviction in this context would carry a mandatory term of life in prison.
-----
Current List of Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations
1.Abdallah Azzam Brigades (AAB)
2.Abu Nidal Organization (ANO)
3.Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG)
4.Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade (AAMS)
5.Al-Shabaab
6.Ansar al-Islam (AAI)
7.Asbat al-Ansar
8.Aum Shinrikyo (AUM)
9.Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA)
10.Communist Party of the Philippines/New People's Army (CPP/NPA)
11.Continuity Irish Republican Army (CIRA)
12.Gama’a al-Islamiyya (Islamic Group)
13.HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
14.Harakat ul-Jihad-i-Islami/Bangladesh (HUJI-B)
15.Harakat ul-Mujahidin (HUM)
16.Hizballah (Party of God)
17.Islamic Jihad Union (IJU)
18.Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)
19.Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM) (Army of Mohammed)
20.Jemaah Islamiya organization (JI)
21.Jemmah Anshorut Tauhid (JAT)
22.Kahane Chai (Kach)
23.Kata'ib Hizballah (KH)
24.Kongra-Gel (KGK, formerly Kurdistan Workers' Party, PKK, KADEK)
25.Lashkar-e Tayyiba (LT) (Army of the Righteous)
26.Lashkar i Jhangvi (LJ)
27.Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
28.Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)
29.Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group (GICM)
30.Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK)
31.National Liberation Army (ELN)
32.Palestine Liberation Front (PLF)
33.Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
34.Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP)
35.PFLP-General Command (PFLP-GC)
36.al-Qaida in Iraq (AQI)
37.al-Qa’ida (AQ)
38.al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
39.al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (formerly GSPC)
40.Real IRA (RIRA)
41.Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
42.Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N)
43.Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C)
44.Revolutionary Struggle (RS)
45.Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso, SL)
46.United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC)
47.Harakat-ul Jihad Islami (HUJI)
48.Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
49.Jundallah
50.Army of Islam (AOI)
51.Indian Mujahideen (IM)
Legal Ramifications of Designation
1. It is unlawful for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide "material support or resources" to a designated FTO. (The term "material support or resources" is defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(1) as " any property, tangible or intangible, or service, including currency or monetary instruments or financial securities, financial services, lodging, training, expert advice or assistance, safehouses, false documentation or identification, communications equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel (1 or more individuals who maybe or include oneself), and transportation, except medicine or religious materials.” 18 U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(2) provides that for these purposes “the term ‘training’ means instruction or teaching designed to impart a specific skill, as opposed to general knowledge.” 18 U.S.C. § 2339A(b)(3) further provides that for these purposes the term ‘expert advice or assistance’ means advice or assistance derived from scientific, technical
Explanation and location of each group at the link below at bottom of page:
http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2011/195553.htm
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.
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