A judge Tuesday again denied bond for a Dearborn Heights man who’s shown online support for terrorists, specifically ISIS.
(The Arabic word “istishadi” translates to “martyr.” “Uqsem be Allah” translates to “I swear to God.” And “dawlah” translates to “state,” apparently referring to the Islamic State.) A string of text messages between Khalil Abu-Rayyan of Dearborn Heights and an undercover FBI agent, as filed in federal court. The indented messages are from Abu-Rayyan. The FBI agent was posing as a 19-year-old Detroit woman from Iraq who sympathized with the terrorist group known as the Islamic State.
DETROIT, MI — A Dearborn Heights man, who investigators say lied to acquire a gun and fantasized about committing terrorist acts, pleaded guilty to two federal firearm charges Tuesday.
While 21-year-old Khalil Abu-Rayyan could face up to 20 years under law, his public defender, Todd Shanker, said the sentencing guidelines call for between 10 and 16 months in prison.
Abu-Rayyan was jailed Feb. 7 and remains imprisoned pending his sentencing scheduled for Jan. 9.
Abu-Rayyan pleaded guilty to making a false statement to acquire a firearm and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to the government, Abu-Rayyan purchased a .22 caliber revolver from a sporting goods store in Dearborn Heights and lied when asked if he used a controlled substances.
“Abu-Rayyan subsequently admitted to law enforcement that he was an habitual user of marijuana during the time period in which he purchased the .22 caliber revolver,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement Tuesday. “Abu-Rayyan has also since pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana in (a) state case, and is currently awaiting trial in state court on the charge of carrying a concealed weapon in an automobile.”
Federal agents began watching Abu-Rayyan in May 2015 after noticing Internet activity indicating support for the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL).
Undercover agents then made contact with Abu-Rayyan pretending to be Muslim women and possible love interests.
Prosecutors previously read in court a number of intensely violent descriptions of crimes Abu-Rayyan fantasized about in texts to undercover informants, including an expressed desire to “shoot up” a large Detroit church with an assault rifle.
Read the Rest of the chilling texts here—> : MLIVE