JIM KOURI: REP. PETER KING PROVEN RIGHT BY NORTH CAROLINA HOMEGROWN ISLAMIC TERRORIST
The 22-year old U.S. citizen and resident of North Carolina, was first charged along with seven other terrorism suspects in a federal indictment returned on July 22, 2009. He was subsequently arrested on July 29, 2009 at which time the indictment was unsealed. On September 24, 2009, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment in the case.
According to the superseding indictment, from before November 2006 through at least July 2009, Boyd conspired with the other named defendants and others to provide material support and resources to terrorists, including currency, training, transportation and personnel.
The object of the conspiracy, according to the Justice Department, was to advance violent jihad , including supporting and participating in terrorist activities abroad and committing acts of murder, kidnapping or maiming persons, especially Americans, abroad.
The indictment alleges that, as part of the conspiracy, Boyd and other defendants prepared themselves to engage in violent jihad and were willing to die as martyrs. They also allegedly offered training in weapons and financing, and helped arrange overseas travel and contacts so others could wage violent jihad overseas.
In addition, as part of the conspiracy, the defendants raised money to support training efforts, disguised the destination of such monies from the donors, and obtained assault weapons to develop skills with the weapons. Some defendants also allegedly radicalized others to believe that violent jihad was a personal religious obligation.
“With his plea today, Zakariya Boyd will be held accountable for his role in this conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism. This case is yet another example of an individual who joined the terrorist cause from within our borders and underscores the dedication of prosecutors, analysts and agents at all levels of our government who work tirelessly to identify such individuals and bring them to justice,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Todd Hinney.
U.S. Attorney George Holding said, “Today, Mr. Boyd stepped into an American courtroom and was afforded the rights and privileges of a system of which he would have destroyed. His decision to plead guilty sets him on a different path — a path consistent with the rights and safety of the citizens of the United States, both at home and abroad.”
At sentencing, Boyd faces a potential 15 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.
Boyd’s father and co-defendant, Daniel Patrick Boyd, pleaded guilty on February 9, 2011, to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and one count of conspiracy to murder kidnap, maim and injure persons in a foreign country. Trial for the remaining co-defendants in custody is scheduled for September 2011.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI Raleigh-Durham Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the FBI, the Defense Criminal Investigation Service, the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, the Raleigh Police Department, the Durham Police Department and the North Carolina Information Sharing and Analysis Center.
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