Another American charged with conspiring to help terrorists

A U.S. citizen in New York was charged on Thursday with conspiring to aid terrorists, becoming the latest American to face federal charges for assisting terror cells overseas.

Muhanad Mahmoud Al Farekh was charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, according to the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

Farekh allegedly conspired with others to provide material support to terrorists and specifically to provide personnel to be used in support of efforts to kill American citizens and members of the U.S. military abroad, according to a charging document. He is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment.

“Counter-terrorism is the highest priority of the National Security Division, and we will continue to be tireless in our pursuit of those who wish to harm the United States or its people,” said Assistant Atty. Gen. for National Security John P. Carlin.

Farekh was deported from Pakistan to the United States and arrested pursuant to the pending warrant.

In February, Hazma Naj Ahmed, 19, a U.S. citizen who lives in Minneapolis, was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of trying to aid Islamic State terrorists and giving false information in a terrorism investigation.

And in January, a Colorado woman was sentenced to 48 months in prison by a federal judge after she tried to board a flight from Denver to Turkey.

Shannon Maureen Connely, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. In exchange for a lighter sentence, she agreed to help authorities identify and prosecute those trying to recruit others into terrorist groups.

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