Washington, D.C. Metro Transit Officer Nicholas Young was arrested on Wednesday morning after attempting to send money to the group via a messaging service that is used by Daesh for recruiting purposes.
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Nicholas Young of Fairfax, Virginia, is the first US law enforcement officer to be charged with a terror-related crime under federal law.
Young sent 22 gift card codes to an undercover agent he thought was a disgruntled military reservist joining the Islamic State, according to the criminal complaint.
Over the next several years, according to court records, Young allegedly had numerous interactions with undercover investigators and an Federal Bureau of Investigation informant discussing his alleged knowledge and “interest in terrorism-related activity”.
The FBI said that Young had travelled in 2011 to Libya to fight with rebels trying to overthrow President Muammar Gaddafi.
Officials say Young did not pose any threat to the Metro system.
According to the DOJ’s statements, Young has been on the FBI’s radar since 2010. He was sacked “effectively immediately”, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority CEO Paul Wiedefeld said.
Authorities insisted there was never any danger to the D.C. Metro system because of the close watch they had on Young.
Authorities said that in their years of monitoring Young, his purchase of the gift cards was the first action that crossed the line to where he could be charged with a crime, and they moved to arrest him as soon as it occurred. Young believed the informant he was messaging was an acquaintance who was working with the militant group, according to court records.
Wiedefeld, the CEO and General Manager of Metro Transit, said in a statement that the FBI began investigating Young after Metro Transit Police alerted their “concerns” about him.
“Nicholas Young had so many interactions with law enforcement over his affiliations with people suspected of ISIS involvement that he knew that he was being monitored, according to the DOJ report”.
Young’s own trouble with law enforcement started back in September of 2010 when he was interviewed regarding his connection with Zachary Chesser, who pleaded guilty for attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
“Obviously, the allegations in this case are profoundly disturbing”.
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At various points, according to the indictment, Young told agents – both undercover and not – that he tortured animals as a child, had dressed up as Jihadi John and as a Nazi, and collected Nazi memorabilia. Young said that CHS had left the United States to go on a vacation tour in Turkey approximately one year ago. He also surprised his fellow officers when he showed to an off-duty hours weapons training event with a large number of firearms and ammunition. The FBI has announced ongoing terror investigations in all 50 U.S. states.
