A U.S. Air Force veteran has been indicted by a federal grand jury in New York for attempting to join Islamic State, the militant jihadist outfit that controls territories spanning Syria and Iraq.
On Wednesday Pugh pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges in a Brooklyn federal court, where he faces two criminal counts, including attempting to provide material support to a terror organisation.
Tairod Pugh (47), a former Air Force avionics instrument system specialist, was sacked from his airplane mechanic job in Kuwait in December 2014, but a few weeks later travelled from Egypt to Turkey with the intention to cross the border into Syria to join IS “to wage violent jihad.”
However in what appeared to be a case of smooth international coordination amongst anti-IS allies, authorities not only denied Pugh’s entry into Turkey, but also subsequently sent him back to Egypt and then deported to the U.S.
When discovered and stopped by border security, Pugh was allegedly carrying two compasses, a solar-powered flashlight, a solar-powered power source, a fatigue jacket and camping clothes.
In a statement U.S. Attorney and Attorney General Nominee Loretta Lynch said, “Born and raised in the U.S., Pugh allegedly turned his back on his country and attempted to travel to Syria in order to join a terrorist organisation.”
Although Pugh’s attorney reportedly said that he would plead not guilty, a forensic search of his personal laptop showed multiple recent Internet searches for “borders controlled by Islamic State”, “Who controls Kobani”, “Kobani border crossing”, and “Jarablus border crossing,” reports said, hinting at his intent to cross into Syria.
The computer also had a chart of crossing points between Turkey and Syria indicating the areas on the Syrian side of the border controlled by IS and other groups and contained numerous downloaded IS propaganda videos, including prisoner executions.
Further, law enforcement noted that social media posts showed Pugh repeatedly professing his intention never to return to the U.S., “even though he has family, including children, in the country.”
In the broader context of IS recruiting foreign fighters, including possibly hundreds from the U.S., Federal Bureau of Investigation Assistant Director-in-Charge Diego Rodriguez said, “U.S. citizens who offer support to terrorist organisations pose a grave threat to our national security and will face serious consequences for their actions.”
If convicted, Pugh will face a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
