LF: Former U.S. Air Force mechanic charged with trying to join IS in Syria, officials say

Title: Former U.S. Air Force mechanic charged with trying to join IS in Syria, officials say
Source: Yahoo!/ABC
URL Source: http://news.yahoo.com/air-force-cha ... ia-brooklyn-fbi-172050146.html
Published: Mar 17, 2015
Author: Pierre Thomas and Mike Levine
Post Date: 2015-03-17 13:43:47 by Willie Green
Keywords: None
Views: 5190
Comments: 32

A former U.S. Air Force mechanic has been charged with trying to cross into Syria to join ISIS, authorities said today.

Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh was indicted on Monday by grand jury in Brooklyn, N.Y., on two charges that included attempting to provide material support to terror organization and obstruction and attempted obstruction of an official proceeding.

The indictment does not offer much in the way of details about the case, but says that between May 2014 and January 12, 2015, he tried to join ISIS.

He was charged via secret criminal complaint on Jan. 16 and was arrested two days later.

The indictment says that in the days leading up to his arrest, he tried to damage or destroy four USB thumb drives and the images and files on them, authorities said.

Those computer files, officials said, showed that in late December 2014, Pugh had "conducted Internet searches" for "borders controlled by Islamic state” and "who controls kobani,” "kobani border crossing” and “jarablus border crossing."

The search also revealed that this past January, he also downloaded a "chart of crossing points between Turkey and Syria" — indicating the areas on the Syrian side of the border controlled by ISIS, authorities said.

"He also searched for 'Flames of War,' a 55-minute ... propaganda video, and in late December 2014 he downloaded a video showing [ISIS] members executing prisoners by lining them up and shooting them in the head," according to court papers.

Pugh served in the Air Force from 1986 to 1990 as an avionics instrument specialist.

Pugh will be arraigned before a federal judge on Wednesday. If convicted at trial, Pugh faces a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison.

So trying to destroy your own property items *before* you get arrested due to a "secret complaint" is a crime?

Light work for mechanics in ISIS. Perhaps he could train to be a camel jockey or goat herder.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1 Peter 1:23)

I understand the Isis "fighters" dressed in women's clothing trying to escape the battle zone.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1 Peter 1:23)

â€œPolitical correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.â€

When that boy's mamma named him "Tie Rod",you just knew he was born to be a mechanic.

I'm guessing he got out of the AF as a E-3 and didn't have the option of re-enlisting.

Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)

What a coincidence. In america, those wanting to avoid combat enlist in the Air Force. Weird.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1 Peter 1:23)

They can't really hide that they didn't discover this only after they seized his equipment. The NSA appears to be wiretapping the internet backbone at various key junctures and, in addition to collecting metadata as we have learned from the Snowden episode, they are wiretapping the entire internet for phrases like those listed above.

The old "destroying evidence" charge. Even if he gets these thrown out, they'll still have other secret evidence to hang him with. The intent here is to hide their methods, not charge a criminal for his actual crimes.

I have to wonder if the FBI was involved in some way, maybe luring this guy into ISIS recruitment. No doubt that most "ISIS recruiters" are FBI.

That's fine by me...
I couldn't care less about those borders anyway..
As long as NSA stops the illegal aliens on our southern border, and upgrades the Amtrak trains to Canada, I'll be a happy camper. (Well not THAT happy... I'm sure I'll be able to find SOMEthing to crab about. LOL)

Maybe we could build high-speed Amtrak trains that have a non-stop route directly to Canada.

I was looking for another pic and that one just fell right into my lap, needless to say I couldn't resist using it.

Great sleuthing. At least here I don't have to read the asshat Freepers praising the FBI for busting another al-Qaeda cell which turns out to be homeless men or some such.

And it's not like they ordered a drone missile attack on his apartment because of his web searches. Most likely,what they did was have his name listed on a covert list of suspects that flashed a warning that notified them when/if he ever bought tickets to travel outside of the country. He did,the bells rang,and they had the guards pick him up at the border. No hits,no misses,no errors.

The old bullshit "shifting the focus" charge. That's NOT why he was arrested,and even you have to admit to yourself that any charges related to destroying the thumb drives are going to last a micro-second before a judge.

"IF"?????? Save your hysteria for real issues. This one just makes you look like a drama queen.

Duhhhhh! The METHODS and some of the sources may remain secret,but there will be nothing secret about the charges. They will be made and responded to in public. Just like with every other criminal case.

I have to wonder if the FBI was involved in some way, maybe luring this guy into ISIS recruitment. No doubt that most "ISIS recruiters" are FBI.

How old are you,12? The Feebs can't talk ANYBODY into joining ISIS,and don't waste their time trying. You are inclined to do so and actively looking to sign up or you won't even appear on their radar screen.

Or maybe you think they encourage people to rob banks also,because they let it be known that banks are where the cash is kept?

Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)

TC,it doesn't disturb you more than a little that the Eddie Murphy wannabe is praising your paranoia?

Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)

Apparently, he was watched for web searches since after 9/11. He worked overseas as a mechanic. Apparently he recently lost his job and was still in Egypt when he started making searches for border crossings from Turkey into Syria that the jihadis use to join up with ISIS. So far, there is no indication he made arrangements for tickets or contacting known ISIS figures that aid recruitment and crossing the border. I would guess that will all come out eventually.

It probably will unless the guy was really caught with his hand in a cookie jar we aren't being told about,and he cops a plea and agrees to cooperate.

Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)

Not as cloak and daggar as it would seem. We know the Jihadi sites are unsecure internet and chat sites and anyone with basic network skills can easily trace information of people who visit the site.

I am amazed at how inept people are with social media and what they post. From the FB page giving out GPS coords. I'm sure this 'genius' using his smart phone and using social media, gave the FBI a bread crump trail of locations to find him, and also 'friends and family' linked to his account to question.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." (1 Peter 1:23)

So far, it seems he was arrested while planning to travel from Egypt to Turkey directly.

That would mean that Egypt, our former girlfriend, cooperated with the FBI to snatch him up. Of course, they do have a lot of American military gear they want to keep buying parts for even if they are now the Saudis' new girlfriend. : )

This goober decided he wanted to be a Muslim,most likely because he thought they would issue him some white virgins to marry,and he wanted to leave America to live in Syria where he would be cannon fodder for Allah.

Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority? (Ron Paul,2012)

The only trains I would agree with subsidizing are those carrying illegals "BACK" to the Southern border or political criminals to the closest prison, in cattle cars.