Kenyan National Indicted For Conspiring To Hijack Aircraft On Behalf Of The Al Qaeda-Affiliated Terrorist Organization Al Shabaab

Cholo Abdi Abdullah Obtained Pilot Training and Researched How to Hijack Aircraft in Order to Conduct a 9/11-Style Attack at the Direction of al Shabaab

Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers said: “This case, which involved a plot to use an aircraft to kill innocent victims, reminds us of the deadly threat that radical Islamic terrorists continue to pose to our nation. And it also highlights our commitment to pursue and hold accountable anybody who seeks to harm our country and our citizens. No matter where terrorists who plan to target Americans may be located, we will seek to identify them and bring them to justice. We owe a debt of gratitude to the agents, detectives, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this defendant’s arrest.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said: “Nearly 20 years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, there are those who remain determined to conduct terror attacks against United States citizens. Abdullah, we allege, is one of them. He obtained a pilot’s license overseas, learning how to hijack an aircraft for the purpose of causing a mass-casualty incident within our borders. Fortunately, the exceptional work by the men and women assigned to the many agencies that comprise the FBI’s New York JTTF have, once again, disrupted a threat to our communities.”

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/kenyan-national-indicted-conspiring-hijack-aircraft-behalf-al-qaeda-affiliated

CP round up for 12/16/2020

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sd/pr/lake-traverse-man-charged-aggravated-sexual-abuse-child

https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/new-york-hire-vehicle-driver-admits-federal-sex-crimes

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/rochester-man-going-prison-16-years-production-child-pornography

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdny/pr/rochester-man-going-prison-14-years-sex-trafficking-minors-money

https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/st-augustine-man-sentenced-more-fifteen-years-federal-prison-offenses-involving-images

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/boston-man-arrested-federal-child-pornography-charge

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/randolph-man-arrested-sex-trafficking-minor

“We have very serious problems with child sexual exploitation in Utah. Fortunately, a strong team of experienced prosecutors and investigators remain committed to protecting child victims and holding perpetrators accountable,” U.S. Attorney John W. Huber said today.

“While the pandemic has exacerbated the challenges in protecting children, there has been no slowdown in our efforts. Our investigations and prosecutions of new exploitation cases continue to move forward with determination,” Huber said.

Huber said that as a result of the pandemic, prosecutors have also been engaged in opposing the early release of PSC defendants, who are serving lengthy federal prison sentences based upon egregious offense conduct. These compassionate release motions, if granted, could result in significant reductions in the sentences imposed in the case.

Over the last several years, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Utah has prosecuted approximately 55 cases a year involving the production, possession, and distribution of child pornography and coercion and enticement of minors in Utah. These cases result from investigations conducted by members of the FBI’s Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. This task force was formed in June 2016 to ensure a rapid, effective response to federal crimes against children and the victimization of children by online predators. These investigations, including chat operations conducted by the task force, account for the majority of cases charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also takes cases referred by the Utah Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ut/pr/project-safe-childhood-comprehensive-strategy-combatting-child-sexual-exploitation

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdga/pr/bryan-county-man-sentenced-federal-prison-attempted-coercion-child-sexual-activity

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdnc/pr/rutherford-co-resident-sentenced-13-years-distribution-child-pornography