Wednesday, 30 March 2016

Mississippi woman pleads guilty on charge that she tried to join ISIS

(CNN)   A Mississippi woman has plead guilty after authorities accused her and her fiance of trying to joinISISJaelyn Delshaun Young, 20, was charged with conspiring to provide material support to the terror group. She faces a maximum 20-year prison sentence and fine of up to $250,000. Her fiance, Muhammad Oda Dakhlalla, pleaded guilty earlier this month.
The two were arrested at a Mississippi airport in February on their way to Syria, according to court documents.
    According to a law enforcement official, Dakhlalla is the son of a local imam and Young is the daughter of a police officer. She recently converted to Islam.
    Prosecutors say that the FBI held "undercover interactions" with Young on the internet after identifying her as a Twitter user who supported ISIS in May 2015. She told the FBI that she was planning to leave with a partner for ISIS-held territory.
    In one conversation, Young said that Dakhlalla's family and the community she lived in did not support ISIS.
    "I thought they were wrong so I look up the Laws myself and Alhamdulillah [God be praised] Dawlah is correct."
    "Dawlah" is a reference to "ad-Dawlah al-Islamiyah," which translates to Islamic State, another name the terror group uses.
    Court documents said that the couple planned to use their wedding and subsequent honeymoon as a cover to travel to Syria.
    Authorities also allege that:
    -- The couple described their skills and asked how they could help the terror group's efforts. "I am good with computers, education and media," Dakhlalla allegedly wrote in one message to an undercover FBI employee. "What could I contribute?" Young also allegedly told an undercover FBI agent that her skills would be useful. "I am skilled in math and chemistry and worked at an analytical lab here on my college campus. My partner is very good with things like computer science/media. We learn very fast and would love to help with giving medical aid."
    In messages detailed in the complaint, the couple seemed enthusiastic, but also concerned about how training would work once they arrived. "Salaam again," Dakhlalla allegedly wrote in a message to an FBI employee. "I wanted to ask about the military experience there. Would I be with people that speak English as well or do they put me with everyone at basic training? I am excited about coming ... but I feel I won't know what all I will be doing."
    -- Young praised the July 16 attacks at military centers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in which four Marines and a sailor were killed. "The numbers of supporters are growing," she said in a message, according to the complaint.

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