A Filipino-American teenager in North Carolina was arrested Friday, June 19, for allegedly attempting to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Justin Nojan Sullivan, 19, of Morganton, NC, had plans to kill up to 1,000 US citizens on behalf of ISIL, according to the criminal complaint filed Monday, June 22.
Local reports described Sullivan’s mother as Filipino, according to Balitang America, though he lived with his father and stepmother.
An undercover FBI agent made contact with the Fil-Am teen earlier this month, following his father’s “911” call to request police assistance at the family’s residence, the complaint alleged.
“I don’t know if it’s ISIS or what, but I come home and he’s destroying Buddhas and figurines and burning stuff in the house,” his father said in the call.
“I mean, we are scared to leave the house,” Sullivan’s father added.
In the background, the Fil-Am teenager could be heard saying, “[W]hy are you trying to say I am a terrorist?” the complaint stated.
It further stated that the undercover agent discovered that Sullivan planned to kill a large number of US citizens with a semi-automatic rifle he planned to obtain on June 20 at the Hickory Gun Show in North Carolina.
In Sullivan’s exchanges with the agent, the complaint alleged that the Fil-Am described himself as “a mujahid” and as a Muslim convert living in the eastern United States. He also allegedly discussed conducting attacks with a firearm at a bar or concert, and thought about using biological weapons and setting off a gas bomb.
Sullivan said he planned on conducting the attacks sometime between June 21 to 23, as his parents would be out of town at that time, according to the complaint. He also allegedly asked the agent to kill his parents and said he would send the agent money and their location.
He also allegedly instructed the agent to “[j]ust kill a few people so that I know u are truthful…just shoot them leave…wear a mask do it at night,” according to the complaint.
On or about June 8, the agent and Sullivan discussed using homemade silencers during the planned terrorist attack. Sullivan asked the agent if he could make one, and when the agent said he thought he could, Sullivan said, “I’ll need to have one built by next week.”
Sullivan allegedly told the agent he would let the agent mail it to him.
“I plan on using it this mont[h],” the Fil-Am said, according to the complaint. He also said he planned on conducting ‘minor assassinations’ before the big attack for training.”
Sullivan also told the agent that “the war is here” and provided the agent the opportunity to join what he called the Islamic State of North America, whose “doctrine is Guerilla Warfare in and out,” the complaint stated.
Sullivan was scheduled to appear in court later Wednesday, June 23, FOX News reported. If found guilty, the maximum potential penalty for conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign organization is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
“Justin Sullivan intended to commit violent acts against innocent people in the U.S. to support the terrorist organization, ISIL,” Special Agent in Charge John Strong said in a statement. “As demonstrated in this case, federal, state, and local law enforcement will work tirelessly to protect our communities from those who plot to carry out terrorist activities of any kind.” (With reports from Balitang America, FOX News and NBC News)
