New Jersey Man Admits Conspiring To Back Islamic State Group
NEWARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A 20-year-old New Jersey man has admitted conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State group by planning to travel to Syria and join them.
Nader Saadeh of Rutherford pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to conspiring with others to provide material support to the ISIS.
He remains detained without bail.
"Nader Saadeh is the last of the three defendants charged in the District of New Jersey in this case to admit his role in trying to provide material support to a known terrorist organization," U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said in a news release. "ISIL is intent on threatening the safety of Americans here and abroad, and we and our law enforcement partners are just as intent on stopping them."
"Nader Saadeh conspired with others, including his brother, to travel to Syria to join ISIL," Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin said in the release. "Counterterrorism is the National Security Division's highest priority and we will continue to hold accountable those who seek to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations."
Saadeh is the last of three New Jersey defendants, including his brother, to admit guilt in the case, which came to light in August when he was arrested by the FBI.
He acknowledged a co-defendant showed him diagrams for making homemade bombs and discussed plans to use them in Times Square, the World Trade Center and Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology in Queens.
The feds received a tip from a roommate in the spring that Saadeh's behavior had changed dramatically and he had become obsessed with ISIS.
Saadeh said that ISIS' execution of a captured Jordanian Air Force pilot and the attack on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris earlier this year were justified, according to authorities.
In May, Saadeh flew to Jordan from John F. Kennedy International Airport, telling some of his friends that he was going to Iraq or Syria to join ISIS, authorities said. Investigators intercepted emails from his family begging him not to, according to a criminal complaint.
Saadeh's mother is quoted in the criminal complaint as saying, "Do not go anywhere if you love me, don't kill your mom."
He faces 15 years in prison when he is sentenced March 18.
Saadeh's brother, Alaa Saadeh, pleaded guilty in October; Fort Lee resident Samuel Rahamin Topaz pleaded guilty to similar charges in September.
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