Professional Documents
Culture Documents
(COIPY
CL'- K 'J
r> 15
C E N T R A L DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
DOCKET NO.
'
COURT --
mi
1 1 * * A
12-
2 _ (yolff
Complaint for Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339A: Conspiring to Provide Material Support and Resources to Terrorists
NAME OF M j ^ S T S A f E JUDGE LOCATION
H O N O R A B L E SpERI P Y M
DiVTE OF OFFENSE 1 PLACE OF OFFENSE
Riverside, California
August 2010
1
tijPrei^nt
;
Beginning on or about August 2010 and continuing to the present, defendants SOHIEL O M A R KABIR, R A L P H K E N N E T H D E L E O N , M I G U E L A L E J A N D R O S A N T A N A VIDRIALES, and A R I F E E N DAVID GOJALI conspired to provide material support and resources, including but not limited to property, services, and personnel, including themselves, knowing and intending that they be used in preparation for, and in carrying out, crimes of terrorism in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339A. BASIS OF COMPLAINANT'S C H A R G E AGAINST T H E A C C U S E D :
(See attached affidavit which is incorporated as part of this Complaint)
MATERIAL WITNESSES IN RELATION TO THIS CHARGE:
SIGNATURE OF COMPLAINANT
N.T. Elias
OFFICIAL T I T L E
hL
SHERiPYM
REC: D e t e n t i o n
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND INFORMATION SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE THE DEFENDANTS S o h i e l Omar KABIR R a l p h K e n n e t h DELEON M i g u e l A l e j a n d r o SANTANA V i d r i a l e s A r i f e e n D a v i d GOJALI RELEVANT GROUPS AL-QA' IDA THE TALIBAN SUMMARY OF THE FACTS DEFENDANTS' DEFENDANTS' SOCIAL MEDIA STATEMENTS TO THE CS 1 4 4 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 15 19 27 28 31
SANTANA RENEWS HIS PASSPORT DELEON AND SANTANA DISCUSS JOINING TERRORIST GROUPS DEFENDANTS DISCUSS KABIR'S TRAVEL TO AFGHANISTAN
DEFENDANTS DISCUSS TRAVELING TO AFGHANISTAN TO JOIN KABIR DEFENDANTS DEFENDANTS DEFENDANTS DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE DISCUSS PLANS TO LEAVE THE UNITED STATES GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A SECOND TIME
34 42 43 46 50 53 54
GO TO A PAINTBALL F A C I L I T Y
DELEON RECRUITS GOJALI TO JOIN THE PLOT DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A THIRD TIME i
TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT.) DEFENDANTS PREPARE FOR THEIR DEPARTURE DELEON GETS HIS PASSPORT AND SEARCHES ON-LINE FOR FLIGHTS GOJALI GETS HIS PASSPORT DELEON PURCHASES A I R L I N E TICKETS CONCLUSION 55
65 71 72 74
ii
I was e m p l o y e d
f r a u d , and t e r r o r i s m .
My c u r r e n t a s s i g n m e n t w i t h t h R i v e r s i d e Resident ("JTTF").
i s i n t h e Los Angeles
Field Office,
e s t a b l i s h i n g probable
cause t h a t b e g i n n i n g
t o thepresent, of California,
("SANTANA"); and A R I F E E N DAVID G O J A L I , a k a " A r i f e e n G h a z a l i , " aka " A r i f e e n G h o z a l i , aka " A r i f e e n d a v u d Gojali" ("GOJALI")
themselves,
k n o w i n g and i n t e n d i n g t h a t t h e y be u s e d i n
p r e p a r a t i o n f o r , or i n c a r r y i n g out, crimes of t e r r o r i s m , including conspiracy to k i l l , and 18, kill damage p r o p e r t y kidnap, maim, o r i n j u r e i n violation persons of T i t l e to
i n a foreign country
and a t t e m p t i n g
the United
S t a t e s Government w h i l e such o f f i c e r s
o f T i t l e 18,
n a t i o n a l s of the United
o f T i t l e 18, U n i t e d
The f a c t s
my p e r s o n a l
o b s e r v a t i o n s , my t r a i n i n g 2
from v a r i o u s
FBI a g e n t s ,
r e p o r t s , and o t h e r
sources.
intended
i s sufficient
probable
charging
of f e d e r a l law.
this affidavit
i n d i c a t e d otherwise, a l l i n t h i s a f f i d a v i t are
1
and s t a t e m e n t s d e s c r i b e d
i n s u b s t a n c e and i n p a r t o n l y .
conversations the
do n o t i n c l u d e r e f e r e n c e s A l l verbatim
communications.
quotations
errors.
A l l dates are
Throughout t h i s a f f i d a v i t , E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s of A r a b i c words and p h r a s e s a r e o f f e r e d f o r ease o f r e f e r e n c e . Additional i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e s u b j e c t s ' use o f c e r t a i n language i s o f f e r e d w h e r e a p p r o p r i a t e and r e s t s on t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n t o date, the context of the statements i n l i g h t of t h e f a c t s , p u b l i c a l l y a v a i l a b l e s o u r c e s o f i n f o r m a t i o n , my c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r o f f i c e r s a n d a g e n t s who a r e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , and my e x p e r i e n c e and f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h terrorist organizations generally. 3
BACKGROUND INFORMATION SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE 4. i n 2010, and As d e s c r i b e d i n more d e t a i l b e l o w , e v i d e n c e shows t h a t t o Islam
introduced
doctrine,
i n c l u d i n g by p o s t i n g content
Thereafter, sites,
r a d i c a l content
t o s o c i a l media
a n d commented o n ,
i n p a r a g r a p h s 26 t h r o u g h 28 b e l o w .
A l - A w l a q i has a l r e a d y served t o r a d i c a l i z e a s i z e a b l e number o f y o u n g M u s l i m s , i n c l u d i n g A m e r i c a n s a n d o t h e r E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g M u s l i m s who a s p i r e d t o l e a r n more a b o u t j i h a d and i t s p e r m i s s i b i l i t y a c c o r d i n g t o S h a r i ' a ( I s l a m i c law). He h a s t r a n s l a t e d a n d d i s c u s s e d famous A r a b i c l a n g u a g e t r a c t s on j i h a d i n h i s l e c t u r e s a n d a r t i c l e s , a s w e l l as h a d i t h s t o r i e s and o t h e r m a t t e r s o f f a i t h and d o c t r i n e . . . . What makes a l - ~ A w l a q i u n i q u e i s h i s r o l e i n t h e r a d i c a l i z a t i o n process, s e r v i n g as a c r i t i c a l l i n k that takes dedicated students of S a l a f i - j i h a d i ideology f r o m a n i n s p i r a t i o n a l t o a n o p e r a t i o n a l mode. Accordingly, al-'Awlaqi's greatest significance l i e s i nhis a b i l i t y to f u n c t i o n as a m o t i v a t i o n a l speaker, d e m o n s t r a t i n g a proven talent to drive believers into action. CTC Sentinel, M a r c h 2010, Volume 3, I s s u e 3. 4
5.
2 0 1 2 , KABIR t r a v e l e d t o A f g h a n i s t a n v i a D u b a i ,
U n i t e d Arab
Emirates.
one-way t i c k e t
v i a K i e v and Dubai.
KABIR's o n - l i n e a c c o u n t s to h i s account 6.
f r o m an I P a d d r e s s
A f t e r r e a c h i n g A f g h a n i s t a n , KABIR c o m m u n i c a t e d w i t h
SANTANA a n d DELEON a n d e n c o u r a g e d SANTANA a n d DELEON t o t r a v e l from t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s and j o i n him i n A f g h a n i s t a n . informed and SANTANA a n d DELEON t h a t he h a d a r r a n g e d i n Afghanistan. KABIR
f o r SANTANA's SANTANA a n d
DELEON's a r r i v a l
KABIR i n f o r m e d
DELEON t h a t he h a d made c o n t a c t s i n A f g h a n i s t a n a n d t h a t he intended t o depart DELEON r e a c h e d that, f o r t r a i n i n g but would w a i t u n t i l KABIR i n f o r m e d SANTANA a n d
Afghanistan.
upon t h e i r a r r i v a l ,
t h e t h r e e men i n i t i a l l y
"the s t u d e n t s , " r e f e r r i n g t o the T a l i b a n , before professors," referring t o Al-Qa'ida. 7. During the investigation, source
joining "the
SANTANA a n d DELEON
3
informed
an F B I c o n f i d e n t i a l
(the"CS")
travel
from t h e U n i t e d
States
t o engage i n v i o l e n t j i h a d
and
t h a t t h e y h a d p l a n n e d t o do s o s i n c e t h e t i m e KABIR c o n v e r t e d them t o I s l a m . DELEON d e s c r i b e d During conversations potential targets w i t h t h e CS, SANTANA a n d f o rviolent attacks, At
preferred stated
i n committing v i o l e n t j i h a d . firearms
F o r e x a m p l e , SANTANA
a n d t h a t he w a n t e d t o
DELEON s t a t e d t h a t he w a n t e d t o be on t h e w o u l d be e x p l o s i v e s . to k i l l an
and t h a t h i s second c h o i c e
When t h e CS a s k e d SANTANA w h e t h e r he w o u l d be a b l e
When
I n S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2 , DELEON a n d
O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS h a s r e c e i v e d o v e r $250,000 i n p a y m e n t s f r o m t h e g o v e r n m e n t a s w e l l as i m m i g r a t i o n b e n e f i t s . The CS was p r e v i o u s l y convicted of t r a f f i c k i n g i n pseudoephedrine. When t r a n s l a t e d f r o m A r a b i c , t h e w o r d " j i h a d " means " s t r u g g l e " a n d c a n be i n t e r p r e t e d i n d i f f e r e n t ways. Evidence i n t h i s c a s e , i n c l u d i n g s t a t e m e n t s t o t h e CS a n d w r i t t e n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , shows t h a t KABIR, SANTANA, a n d DELEON c l o s e l y f o l l o w e d a n d s t u d i e d t h e t e a c h i n g s o f Anwar A l - A w l a q i . A l A w l a q i , i n h i s 2009 e s s a y "44 Ways t o S u p p o r t J i h a d , " s t a t e d t h a t " j i h a d " i s an o b l i g a t o r y a c t f o r M u s l i m s and t h a t " v i c t o r y w i l l n o t be t h r o u g h e l e c t i o n s o r p e a c e f u l dawah, b u t t h r o u g h f i g h t i n g i n t h e p a t h o f A l l a h . " The e v i d e n c e shows t h a t KABIR, SANTANA, DELEON, a n d GOJALI u s e d t h e w o r d " j i h a d " t o r e f e r t o f i g h t i n g a s i n armed combat. 6
4
GOJALI a g r e e d t o jihad.
join
t o commit v i o l e n t
GOJALI h a v e t a k e n ,
from the U n i t e d
in Afghanistan training,
j o i n t h e T a l i b a n and A l - Q a ' i d a
i n c l u d i n g p h y s i c a l e x e r c i s e and logistics,
including flights,
S o h i e l Omar KABIR 9. Security a 34 Records from the U n i t e d ("DHS") and S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f Homeland show t h a t KABIR i s was a
the State of C a l i f o r n i a
y e a r - o l d n a t u r a l i z e d U n i t e d S t a t e s C i t i z e n who He was
show t h a t KABIR s e r v e d As
f r o m 2000 t o 2001.
discussed
l e a r n e d t h a t KABIR d e p a r t e d and
entered Afghanistan
R e c o r d s f r o m DHS
and
the State of C a l i f o r n i a
show t h a t who
DELEON i s a 23
y e a r - o l d l a w f u l permanent r e s i d e n t a l i e n
DELEON was b o r n i n t h e
R e c o r d s f r o m DHS a n d t h e S t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a
i n the United
Records from t h e S t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a
GOJALI
a 21 y e a r - o l d U n i t e d S t a t e s c i t i z e n b y b i r t h a n d a r e s i d e n t California.
of R i v e r s i d e ,
RELEVANT GROUPS AL-QA'IDA 13. publicly According t o the National Counterterrorism Al-Qa'ida Center's
a v a i l a b l e website,
i s d e s c r i b e d as f o l l o w s :
E s t a b l i s h e d b y Usama b i n L a d i n i n 1988 w i t h A r a b s who fought i n A f g h a n i s t a n a g a i n s t the Soviet Union, Al-Qa'ida's declared goal i s the establishment of a pan-Islamic c a l i p h a t e throughout the Muslim world. Toward t h i s end, A l - Q a ' i d a s e e k s t o u n i t e M u s l i m s t o f i g h t t h e West, e s p e c i a l l y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , as a means o f o v e r t h r o w i n g M u s l i m r e g i m e s A l - Q a ' i d a deems " a p o s t a t e , " e x p e l l i n g Western i n f l u e n c e from M u s l i m c o u n t r i e s , and d e f e a t i n g Israel. A l - Q a ' i d a i s s u e d a s t a t e m e n t i n F e b r u a r y 1998 under t h e banner o f " t h e World I s l a m i c Front f o r J i h a d A g a i n s t t h e Jews a n d C r u s a d e r s " s a y i n g i t was t h e d u t y o f a l l M u s l i m s t o k i l l US c i t i z e n s - c i v i l i a n a n d m i l i t a r y and t h e i r a l l i e s e v e r y w h e r e . . . . A l - Q a ' i d a r e m a i n s
committed t o conducting a t t a c k s i n the United a g a i n s t American i n t e r e s t s abroad. http://www.nctc.gov/'site/groups/al_qaida 14. Secretary .html.
States
and
date,
the as a
group A l - Q a ' i d a
F o r e i g n T e r r o r i s t O r g a n i z a t i o n p u r s u a n t t o S e c t i o n 219 o f t h e Immigration THE TALIBAN 15. The T a l i b a n , ( a l s o known as " T a l e b a n " ) , i s described, and N a t i o n a l i t y A c t .
i n p a r t , by t h e N a t i o n a l C o u n t e r t e r r o r i s m
Center as:
. . . a S u n n i I s l a m i s t n a t i o n a l i s t and p r o - P a s h t u n movement f o u n d e d i n t h e e a r l y 1990s t h a t r u l e d most o f A f g h a n i s t a n f r o m 1996 u n t i l O c t o b e r o f 2 0 0 1 . The movement's n u c l e u s t h e w o r d " T a l i b a n " i s P a s h t o f o r " s t u d e n t s " - was composed o f p e a s a n t f a r m e r s and men s t u d y i n g I s l a m i n A f g h a n i s t a n and P a k i s t a n m a d r a s a s , o r r e l i g i o u s s c h o o l s . [In] S e p t e m b e r 1996, t h e T a l i b a n h a d c a p t u r e d K a b u l , k i l l e d t h e c o u n t r y ' s p r e s i d e n t , and e s t a b l i s h e d t h e I s l a m i c E m i r a t e o f Afghanistan. I n t h e y e a r s l e a d i n g up t o t h e 11 S e p t e m b e r 2001 a t t a c k i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h e T a l i b a n p r o v i d e d a safehaven f o r Al-Qa'ida. T h i s gave A l - Q a ' i d a a base i n w h i c h i t c o u l d f r e e l y r e c r u i t , t r a i n , and d e p l o y t e r r o r i s t s t o o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . The T a l i b a n h e l d sway i n A f g h a n i s t a n u n t i l O c t o b e r 2 0 0 1 , when t h e y were r o u t e d f r o m power by t h e U S - l e d campaign a g a i n s t A l - Q a ' i d a . http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/taliban.html. SUMMARY OF THE 16. FACTS violent files of
As o f O c t o b e r 2011, SANTANA h a d p o s t e d
e x t r e m i s t m e d i a on a s o c i a l m e d i a s i t e ,
i n c l u d i n g audio
Al-Qa'ida
t e r r o r i s t Anwar A l - A w l a q i , Peninsula's
articles
from Al-Qa'ida i n
5
English-language supporting
comments a n d q u o t a t i o n s
i n d i c a t e d he l i v e d approximately
t o Islam i n
A u g u s t o f 2010.
A p i c t u r e on one o f SANTANA's
( A r a b i c word r e f e r r i n g t o a f i g h t e r o u r movement, b e c a u s e i n
place to
o f one t h e r e
p o u n c e upon t h e r e g i m e ' s r u i n e d r e m n a n t s .
("OCE") t h a t , f r o m t h e t i m e he
converted
point of
t h a t he was c a r r y i n g on h i s p e r s o n .
officers while
t h a t he c o n v e r t e d t o I s l a m
on h i s c u r r e n t
t r i p t o M e x i c o , he o b t a i n e d ,
6
on-line t o determine h i s In e l e c t r o n i c
potential threat
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s w i t h t h e F B I o n - l i n e , SANTANA d e t a i l e d h i s acceptance of Islam, join Al-Qa'ida. 19. D u r i n g an o n - l i n e c o n v e r s a t i o n on F e b r u a r y 15, 2012, (an h i s s u p p o r t o f j i h a d , and h i s d e s i r e t o
SANTANA i n f o r m e d a n OCE o f h i s i n t e r e s t i n " f i s a b i l i l l a h " Arabic p h r a s e meaning " f o r t h e sake o f God"). t h e f o l l o w i n g exchange occurred: During the
conversation, OCE:
t o be c l e a r a k h i . . . what do u mean when u use t h e w o r d f i s a b i l l a h t h e y t e l l me t h a t t h e y l i v e i n a m e r i k a s o t h e y have d i f f e r e n t f i s a b i l l a h J i h a d y e s . . t h i s i s what must be c l e a r b e c a u s e i n some p l a c e s f i s a b i l l a h means s o m e t h i n g e l s e . . s o m e b e l i e v i e i t means p e r f o r m i n g a c t such as c h a r i t y o r J i h a d oh r e a l l y ? d i d n ' t no t h a t
SANTANA:
OCE:
a r e u t a l k i n g a b o u t c h a r i t y o r j i h a d when u use f i s a b i l l a h
SANTANA:
t o r e f e r t o v i o l e n t j i h a d as i n war.
( l a t e r i d e n t i f i e d a s KABIR) i n t r o d u c e d
t h a t he went t o M e x i c o t o " t r a i n " a n d t h a t he " l e a r n e d how t o use f i x and shoot a l o t o f d i f f e r e n t kinda o f guns a n d I was
SANTANA w h i c h b a t t l e f i e l d "korasan,"
t h e n a d d e d "yemen."
o r "yemen" t o w h i c h SANTANA
p a v e t h e way t o J e r u s a l e m . " 12
( B a s e d on my
training special
and
experience
and
i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d by
other was
FBI a an
agents:
r e f e r e n c e to Khorasan, a t r a d i t i o n a l I s l a m i c r e f e r e n c e to
Jerusalem" a fatwa
i s s u e d by A l - Q a ' i d a
I n an o n - l i n e c o n v e r s a t i o n on
(later
identified
fisabillah."
t o l d SANTANA t h e r e i s a
SANTANA r e s p o n d e d " M a s h a l l a h
On F e b r u a r y 23, 1998, Usama B i n L a d e n and h i s t h e n d e p u t y , Ayman A l - Z a w a h i r i (now t h e l e a d e r o f A l - Q a ' i d a f o l l o w i n g B i n Laden's d e a t h ) , i s s u e d a fatwa d e c l a r i n g , i n p a r t , t h a t [ t ] h e r u l i n g t o k i l l t h e A m e r i c a n s and t h e i r a l l i e s c i v i l i a n s and m i l i t a r y - i s an i n d i v i d u a l d u t y f o r e v e r y M u s l i m who c a n do i t i n any c o u n t r y i n w h i c h i t i s p o s s i b l e t o do i t , i n o r d e r t o l i b e r a t e t h e A l - A q s a Mosque and t h e h o l y mosque [Mecca] f r o m t h e i r g r i p , and i n o r d e r f o r t h e i r a r m i e s t o move o u t o f a l l t h e l a n d s o f I s l a m [ . ] . . . We w i t h God's h e l p - c a l l on e v e r y M u s l i m who b e l i e v e s i n God and w i s h e s t o be r e w a r d e d t o c o m p l y w i t h God's o r d e r t o k i l l t h e A m e r i c a n s and p l u n d e r t h e i r money w h e r e v e r and whenever t h e y f i n d i t . See http: //www.pbs. orgy'newshoury'updates june98Zfatwa_1998.html. 13 / m i l i t a r y y j an-
a n d t o l d t h e OCE he h a s w a n t e d t o j o i n t h e b a t t l e f i e l d s i n c e he "took shahada" ( r e f e r r i n g in Islam). 23. During the investigation, occasions. t h e CS met SANTANA, DELEON, Over t h e c o u r s e t h e CS o f t h e i r of several plans with t o t h e t i m e when he d e c l a r e d h i s f a i t h
GOJALI p r e v i o u s l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h
DELEON a n d
GOJALI t o j o i n t h e c o n s p i r a c y i n
F i l i p i n o male, l a t e r
DELEON i n an u n r e c o r d e d c o n v e r s a t i o n . were a c o u p l e
DELEON t o l d
o f " b r o t h e r s " f r o m t h e mosque who want t o go f o r The CS a s k e d DELEON w h i c h k i n d o f "jihad." DELEON s a i d fisabilillah
"fisabilillah."
a n d DELEON r e p l i e d
had been d i s c u s s i n g f i s a b i l i l l a h
had been d o i n g
When t h e CS a s k e d jihad
During
an o n - l i n e c o n v e r s a t i o n
on M a r c h 9, 2 0 1 2 ,
SANTANA a g a i n
(Arabic f o r leader) 14
i s Al-Qa'ida.
The OCE
e x p l a i n e d how t o do s o a n d SANTANA f o l l o w e d s u i t b y t y p i n g v e r b a t i m t h e f o l l o w i n g p l e d g e p r o v i d e d b y t h e OCE: 0 o u r b e l o v e d E m i r , on b e h a l f o f my b r o t h e r s i n a l - Q a e d a , commanders, a n d s o l d i e r s . I say: I g i v e a l l e g i a n c e t o you t o f o l l o w t h e Book o f A l l a h a n d t h e Sunnah o f H i s M e s s e n g e r , t o l i s t e n a n d obey i n good a n d b a d , t o have a l t r u i s m and n o t d i s p u t e w i t h people i n t h e i r f i e l d s except when we s e e c l e a r u n b e l i e f t h a t i s p r o v e i n t h e r e v e l a t i o n f r o m A l l a h a s much a s we c a n . When t h e OCE a s k e d SANTANA how he f e l t , feels like SANTANA r e p l i e d " I t
I s l a m i s t c o n t e n t , and items r e f l e c t i n g a m i s t r u s t o f
A c c o r d i n g t o Facebook, t h e " l i k e " f e a t u r e a l l o w s u s e r s t o share c o n t e n t w i t h o t h e r Facebook u s e r s . F o r example, i f User A c l i c k s t h e " l i k e " button associated with s p e c i f i c content posted on U s e r B's F a c e b o o k p a g e , a l i n k i s p o s t e d on U s e r A's F a c e b o o k page i n d i c a t i n g U s e r A " l i k e d " U s e r B's c o n t e n t ; U s e r B's content i sannotated t o note t h e " l i k e . " Similarly, Facebook's "share" f e a t u r e a l l o w s users t o share content i n a v a r i e t y o f ways, i n c l u d i n g t o t h e i r own p a g e , t o a n o t h e r p e r s o n ' s o r group's page, o r i n a p r i v a t e message. 15
l i n k s to videos of jihad-based
videos
elsewhere,
related activities,
("IED") a t t a c k s ,
Afghanistan.
"Knights of
T h i s v i d e o , w h i c h I have r e v i e w e d ,
bombing o p e r a t i o n a g a i n s t a l a r g e base w h e r e i n
suicideand
s e v e r a l p o s t i n g s w i t h SANTANA
a n d / o r DELEON, b o t h o f whom h a v e " l i k e d " o r commented on s e v e r a l o t h e r p o s t i n g s by KABIR, i n c l u d i n g t h e a. entitled "shared" On December 7, 2011, following: a video later
KABIR p o s t e d
experience,
conversations available
with other
agents,
and r e s e a r c h
of publicly
f l a g o r banner r e f e r s t o a military
traditional leaders.
f l o w n b y Muhammad a n d l a t e r b y I s l a m i c
More r e c e n t l y , s e v e r a l j i h a d i flag
groups and t e r r o r i s t s
as a s y m b o l f o r j i h a d a n d m u j a h i d e e n
On o r a b o u t J a n u a r y 5, 2 0 1 2 , KABIR s h a r e d
a link
comments.
comment t h a t a p p e a r e d t o
which discussed
Afghanistan. yea!!!!" c.
On J a n u a r y 5, 2 0 1 2 , KABIR p o s t e d
a p h o t o on h i s
F a c e b o o k page d e p i c t i n g a v e i l e d a n d c o v e r e d assault r i f l e .
woman l e a n i n g on an
KABIR r e p l i e d "Naa.. n o t c o m i n
KABIR was t h e n i n Germany, I b e l i e v e t h a t KABIR i n t e n d e d t o i n f o r m DELEON t h a t he h a d commenced h i s j o u r n e y t o A f g h a n i s t a n . ) d. On J a n u a r y 19, 2012, DELEON " l i k e d " a s h a r e d "Dua o f S h e i k h The v i d e o , t o be a which link
p o s t e d on KABIR's page o f a v i d e o e n t i t l e d
I h a v e r e v i e w e d a s p o s t e d on KABIR's p a g e , a p p e a r s
Zawahiri,
Islamic fighters.
stories DELEON
F a c e b o o k page e n t i t l e d appears
"Ghuraba."
reviewed,
to depict l i f e
as a m u j a h i d e e n f i g h t e r a n d
18
The v i d e o a l s o f e a t u r e s m u j a h i d e e n
On J u l y 5, 2 0 1 2 , KABIR p o s t e d a p h o t o f e a t u r i n g from
KABIR's
l i n k t o a video e n t i t l e d
Falsehood reviewed,
has p e r i s h e d P a r t 1 Urdu."
i s a p r o d u c t i o n by As-Sahab and b e g i n s
l e a d e r Ayman A l - Z a w a h i r i . KABIR's p o s t o f
an a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d The And
GOJALI, and o t h e r s t o L a s Vegas, Nevada, t o a t t e n d a c o n f e r e n c e . During thetrip, t h e CS r e c o r d e d many o f h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n s At the beginning of thet r i p , with
the defendants.
SANTANA t o l d t h e
CS t h a t he a n d DELEON were c o n v e r t e d
t o I s l a m b y t h e same later
enforcement, all
On May 26, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON a n d t h e CS d i s c u s s e d j i h a d and DELEON s a i d " [ i ] f I had t h e chance, r e a l l y [I] would even
i t ' s here,
w i l l i n g n e s s t o engage i n v i o l e n t States). a.
or i n the United
L a t e r that evening,
DELEON d i s c u s s e d a p l a n f o r jihad:
. . .
Yeah. Wow.
And t h e n . . . 'cause my w h o l e f a m i l y i s U.S. c i t i z e n s e x c e p t f o r me. I'm not a c i t i z e n . So . . . [ u n i n t e l l i g i b l e ("UI")] t h e window a l i t t l e b i t . A n d t h e n , I was g o i n g t o go, b u t , my, I , I d i d n ' t have a v i s a yet. I h a d t o go t o t h e P h i l i p p i n e Embassy, a n d t h e n t h i s and t h a t . And t h e n , b a s i c a l l y , t h e b r o t h e r had already sold h i s car. I was g o i n g t o s e l l my c a r . Wow. B r o t h e r S o h i e l went t o Afghanistan?
THE CS
20
He's i n Germany r i g h t now. He's g o i n g t o go t o A-F-G [ r e f e r r i n g t o Afghanistan]. And, a l h a m d i l u l l a h [ A r a b i c f o r " p r a i s e God"] h e ' s a v e r y good b r o t h e r . Masha'Allah [Arabic expression of t h a n k s o r p r a i s e t o God upon h e a r i n g good news]. And t h e n t h a t ' s i t . A n d t h e n , I was w a i t i n g a n d w a i t i n g a n d w a i t i n g . And I t o l d my d a d , "Dad, I'm g o i n g f o r umrah" [Arabic expression r e f e r r i n g to a p i l g r i m a g e t o Mecca, S a u d i A r a b i a ] . But, you guys a r e a c t u a l l y g o i n g t o Afghanistan? Yeah, we're g o i n g t o go. Wow. And . . . . . . And . . .
And t h e n I a l r e a d y h a d a p l a n . We were g o i n g t o go t o S a u d i , b e c a u s e my u n c l e i s i n J e d d a h . A n d I was g o i n g t o go t o S a u d i . . . t h e S a u d i Embassy a n d t e l l them I'm g o i n g t o go f o r umrah, t h i s and t h a t . Uh h u h . A n d t h e n f r o m t h e r e , go s o u t h , y o u know, t o w a r d s maybe Yemen o r w h e r e v e r . Because i t ' s , i t ' s , and S o h i e l [ r e f e r r i n g t o KABIR] a l r e a d y knows people. So h e ' s a l r e a d y gone, h e ' s a l r e a d y . . . a l r e a d y gave up h i s l i f e . Wow. And s o M i g u e l a n d I , we're a l r e a d y , we're g o i n g t o g e t money f o r M i g u e l [ r e f e r r i n g t o SANTANA]. Already,
21
t o buy a
DELEON a n d t h e CS
DELEON:
He h a d a, u h , he knew, he h a d f a m i l y who h a d , y o u know, weapons. Ok, ok. Y e a h , he t o l d me, b e c a u s e he i s from t h e . . . He p r a c t i c e d . DELEON said:
THE CS:
DELEON: c.
. . . But l i k e t e l l i n g you a l l t h e d e t a i l s , I r e a l l y haven't t o l d anyone. B u t , yeah from . . . from Mexico he came b a c k . A n d now I t o l d S o h i e l I am j u s t w a i t i n g f o r my U.S., y o u know, my c i t i z e n s h i p . ( B a s e d on my t r a i n i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c e , conversation, the context of the
t h a t KABIR h a d s t a r t e d on a p a t h conversation
indicates that
22
32.
During
t h e May 2012 L a s V e g a s t r i p ,
SANTANA t o l d t h e
i s how I came t o I s l a m ,
A f t e r t h e L a s Vegas t r i p ,
copy o f A l - A w l a q i m a t e r i a l s .
p r o v i d e d t h e thumb d r i v e t o t h e F B I w i t h o u t thumb d r i v e c o n t a i n s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 32 a u d i o
accessing i t . files
o f l e s s o n s and
M
4 4 Ways
W h i l e en r o u t e , bar
a n d was i n t r o d u c e d t o I s l a m t h r o u g h
CS t h a t KABIR was c u r r e n t l y i n Germany a n d t h a t he was n o t coming back. the hookah 35. DELEON t o l d lounge. On J u n e 16, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA, a n d t h e CS, f o r a conference and r e t u r n e d t h e CS t h a t SANTANA a l s o met KABIR a t
t h e d r i v e t o a n d f r o m San D i e g o , l e c t u r e s by A l - A w l a q i over t h e
On J u n e 16, 2 012,
f o l l o w i n g d i s c u s s i o n , w h i c h t h e CS SANTANA:
p r o p h e t , p e a c e be upon h i m
b.
t h e CS t h e A l - A w l a q i
During
SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he
w a n t e d t o become a s n i p e r .
v a r i o u s weapons i n M e x i c o , i n c l u d i n g A K - 4 7 s . and t h e CS t h e n d i s c u s s e d p l a n s
w h e t h e r t o do s o i n M e x i c o o r t h e U n i t e d d. had
p r e v i o u s l y decided jihad.
violent
36. discussed
On J u n e 2 2 , 2 012, going
t o t h e range t o p r a c t i c e w i t h f i r e a r m s .
t r a v e l e d by c a r t o I l l i n o i s During the t r i p ,
which occurred
t h e CS r e c o r d e d
several conversations.
he h a d s p o k e n w i t h KABIR a b o u t o b t a i n i n g money t o l e a v e t h e United contact help States. SANTANA r e l a y e d t h a t KABIR h a d t o l d SANTANA t o could
an i n d i v i d u a l
DELEON s a i d t h a t he o b t a i n e d
an u p d a t e d i s s u e o f
audio-recordings
o f l e c t u r e s by A l - A w l a q i
t h a t t h e two p l a y e d
The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e
content. SANTANA t o l d t h e CS a b o u t h i s
the Chicago t r i p ,
"Al-Qa'ida."
t o do SANTANA
. . . [Al-Qa'ida]."
t o be a s n i p e r a n d t h a t he t r a i n e d i n M e x i c o . CS t h a t he h a d t o l d t h e b r o t h e r an "oxide-peroxide
(OCE) t h a t he h a d t r i e d
Inspire" construct
instructions
Make a Bomb i n t h e K i t c h e n
t r a i n i n g camp, SANTANA t o l d t h e CS, " T h i s ( r e f e r r i n g t o t h e OCE). handle i t , strong So, I'm n o t g o i n g This I f f o r some w e i r d t o g i v e up.
i f I can't i s my life.
L i k e , because, t h i s i n this
intention.
i s what I d e s i r e o f d o i n g
t o keep
discussed
SANTANA's i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h KABIR.
t h a t he a n d KABIR w h i c h KABIR
Al-Awlaqi
join
actually
SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he t h e n t o l d
What we c o u l d do i s go y a know,
s e e who's f i g h t ,
. . . j o i n them, f r o m t h e r e ,
t h e CS " [ s ] o t h a t ' s t h e r e a l i t y . fisabillalah." SANTANA RENEWS HIS PASSPORT 41. Consulate passport.
I came t o I s l a m
California, SANTANA t o l d
t o u p d a t e SANTANA's t h e CS t h a t he s p o k e According to
w i t h KABIR u s i n g
on o r a b o u t J u l y 9, 2 0 1 2 .
SANTANA, he a n d KABIR d i s c u s s e d how he (SANTANA), DELEON, a n d t h e CS a l l d e s i r e d t o t r a v e l SANTANA i f he was s t i l l CS o f f e r e d t o h e l p the United States (for violent jihad). The CS a s k e d The
i n t e n t on c o m m i t t i n g
fisabilillah.
SANTANA t o l d rewards.
t h e CS h i s h e a v e n l y
any e a r t h l y
1 1 , 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA a n d t h e CS p i c k e d up W h i l e on t h e d r i v e , t h e CS
DELEON a n d d r o v e asked
t o Orange County.
DELEON i f g e t t i n g m a r r i e d , h a v i n g k i d s ,
or getting h i s jihad.
i n mind ever s i n c e
DELEON t o l d
t h e CS t h a t ,
On J u l y
passport renewal.
DELEON a n d SANTANA
when t h e y go ( f o r j i h a d
Al-Qa'ida or t o Palestine. DELEON AND SANTANA DISCUSS JOINING TERRORIST GROUPS 44. On J u l y 16, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h DELEON i n O n t a r i o , DELEON w h i c h group they would j o i n i f
California.
The CS a s k e d
t h e y went t o A f g h a n i s t a n .
DELEON s a i d "AQ" o r t h e T a l i b a n . 28
DELEON s a i d he h a d b e e n d o i n g thought
r e s e a r c h on t h e T a l i b a n a n d f o r t h e r i g h t cause. DELEON
t h e T a l i b a n was f i g h t i n g
money t o f u n d t h e t r i p ,
The t h r e e d i s c u s s e d where t h e y
should j o i n .
DELEON b e l i e v e d t h e
b u t "maybe AQ w o u l d be
and U n i t e d Nations
1 0
j o i n Abu S a y y a f
and f i g h t a g a i n s t a p o s t a t e
The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e d e s i g n a t e d t h e Abu S a y y a f Group ("ASG") a s a F o r e i g n T e r r o r i s t O r g a n i z a t i o n i n 1997. The S t a t e Department notes: ASG i s t h e most v i o l e n t o f t h e t e r r o r i s t g r o u p s o p e r a t i n g i n t h e s o u t h e r n P h i l i p p i n e s . . . [and] e n g a g e s i n k i d n a p p i n g s f o r ransom [ i n c l u d i n g k i d n a p p i n g s o f A m e r i c a n s ] , beheadings, a s s a s s i n a t i o n s , and e x t o r t i o n . The group's s t a t e d g o a l i s t o promote an independent I s l a m i c s t a t e i n western Mindanao and t h e S u l u A r c h i p e l a g o , areas i n t h e s o u t h e r n P h i l i p p i n e s h e a v i l y p o p u l a t e d by Muslims. 29
Americans;
a n d (3) P a l e s t i n e .
SANTANA s a i d t h a t he p r e f e r r e d
i t and "wouldn't
a problem i f i t ' s ,
SANTANA s a i d he w o u l d n o t i t t h e more
CS a s k e d DELEON t o c l a r i f y a comment DELEON made r e g a r d i n g mujahideen i n the battle f i e l d . When t h e CS a s k e d DELEON DELEON s a i d , "Me . . . I
i n t o magazines
be c o n s i d e r e d a s h a h a d a
u s e d h e r e t o mean
s a y i n g i t was n o t t h e t y p e paradise.
DEFENDANTS DISCUSS KABIR'S TRAVEL TO AFGHANISTAN 47. left On J u l y 24, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t KABIR h a d Afghanistan.
a t h i r d man.
n o t come t o A f g h a n i s t a n
to refer to a terrorist
On A u g u s t 8, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON t o l d
t h e CS a b o u t a r e c e n t DELEON t o l d t h e CS
(DELEON) o b s e r v e d KABIR t o be w i t h a p e r s o n who was a s h i e k h o r an imam. DELEON s a i d KABIR t o l d h i m he was l i v i n g i n Kabul near
a t any Later
of everything.
DELEON a n d t h e CS d i s c u s s e d A l - A w l a q i ' s
teachings.
t h e CS t h a t A l - A w l a q i ' s 31
v i e w on s u i c i d e bombers was
t h a t t h e y would reap h e a v e n l y rewards even though t h e p r a c t i c e of s u i c i d e i s forbidden learned by Islam. DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he o f men i n A f g h a n i s t a n
f r o m KABIR t h a t t h e r e
were s c o r e s
w i t h KABIR d u r i n g
o f SANTANA a n d a s k e d h i m t o r e c i t e a v e r s e
from t h e
SANTANA c o u l d work t h e r e .
o r p h a n a g e , w h i c h SANTANA c o n f i r m e d
a c o v e r f o r t h e i r t r u e i n t e n t i o n s , was t o r e a p
rewards.
When SANTANA m e n t i o n e d a r e p o r t t h a t t h e U n i t e d
condoned c o m m i t t i n g
32
52.
On A u g u s t 15, 2 0 1 2 , d u r i n g a m e e t i n g b e t w e e n
SANTANA,
DELEON, a n d t h e CS, DELEON a d v i s e d t h a t t h e r e were no p l a n s f o r them t o a c t u a l l y work i n t h e orphanage. DELEON s a i d t h a t KABIR SANTANA
he h a d b e e n
departures
t h r o u g h M e x i c o en r o u t e t o A f g h a n i s t a n . t h e CS their
On A u g u s t 2 1 , 2 0 1 2 , DELEON a g a i n t o l d i n pairs.
p l a n s h o u l d be t o t r a v e l 54. During
t o t h e group
a s he c o u l d .
h i m t o h e l p SANTANA g e t t o A f g h a n i s t a n . him t h e c o n n e c t i o n
33
sitting
Skype s e s s i o n
( t h e above-
described
According
t o SANTANA, KABIR s a i d
t h a t i f he l e f t Afghanistan,
t o j o i n a group b e f o r e
t h e men a r r i v e d t o
DELEON, who t o l d
joining.
SANTANA r e p l i e d "AQ."
troops.
t h a t he s h o u l d he
SANTANA s a i d
had seen v i d e o s
o f mujahideen i n Afghanistan
c a r r y i n g heavy (rocket
loads.
SANTANA s a i d t h e y
w i l l be c a r r y i n g "RPGs" gear.
p r o p e l l e d grenades),
ammunition, and o t h e r
DEFENDANTS DISCUSS TRAVELING TO AFGHANISTAN TO JOIN KABIR 56. and The On o r a b o u t A u g u s t 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA met w i t h t h e CS recorded.
i n A f g h a n i s t a n and
a g r e e d t o Skype a g a i n
a t 6:00 p.m. t h a t 34
evening.
57.
At approximately
6:00 p.m.,
photographs of depicts
the c a l l
consultation),
which i s c o n s i s t e n t with
i n the United
they j o i n e d him a.
(referring to
leave
to j o i n the
through." do
KABIR s a i d "So i f I
still
r e i t e r a t e d t h a t w h i l e he w a i t e d ,
h e n e e d e d t o do some p h y s i c a l 35
training. it
b e s t t h a t KABIR t r y t o t r a i n ,
them.
SANTANA a n d DELEON t o l d KABIR t h e y p l a n n e d t o l e a v e KABIR t o l d SANTANA a n d DELEON t o have a "game I'm gonna go o u t h e r e
and I'm gonna c h e c k i t o u t a n d s e e how i t i s a n d i f i t ' s n o t worth i t , then I say i t ' s b e t t e r i f we go t o u h , uh, S a u d i "
w o r s e comes t o w o r s e where y o u d o n ' t h e a r f r o m me no more, period. SANTANA]. you know, You, you have Ok. [individuals known t o KABIR, DELON, a n d And
know my l o c a t i o n a n d y o u come o u t h e r e , t h e n t h e r i g h t come a n d meet y o u g u y s . " Later i n the conversation, SANTANA a s k e d KABIR
person w i l l f. the
they belong t o ?
Do t h e y b e l o n g t o t h e
Students? ...
1 1
t o t h e "A," o r t h e , t h e . ...
Students. Students. [Talking Students. What's over each o t h e r ] Students. Students. that.
I like
[Unknown p e r s o n KABIR:
I t was t h e s t u d e n t s . The o t h e r ones a r e up i n t h e m o u n t a i n s . Yeah, yeah, I g e t y a . understand. Got i t . [UI] Got i t . [UI] I
DELEON:
THE CS:
The o t h e r one . . .
KABIR:
[UI] . . . t h e y ' r e o v e r h e r e t o o , s o . T h a t ' s why y o u . . . I t ' s a, i t ' s a t r i c k y game o u t h e r e . B u t , insha'Allah, everything's cool. So f r o m t h e s t u d e n t s do y o u a d v a n c e t o t h e p r o f e s s o r s ? Or . . .
SANTANA:
As n o t e d a b o v e , t h e P a s h t o w o r d f o r " s t u d e n t s " i s " t a l i b a n , " which i s i t s e l f a c o m b i n a t i o n o f t h e A r a b i c word f o r s t u d e n t , " t a l i b , " and t h e I n d o - I r a n i a n p l u r a l s u f f i x "an." 37
Ya,
that's a l l ,
o f c o u r s e y o u do.
Oh, o k a y . T h a t ' s t h e f i r s t t h i n g y o u g o t t a do i s meet t h e p r o f e s s o r . The p r o f e s s o r d e c i d e s i f i t , i f i t i s a l l good, i f i t ' s good t o go o r n o t . I t was a l i t t l e c o m p l i c a t e d w i t h me b e c a u s e I came f r o m t h e U.S. Oh. So, t h e s e f o o l s a l r e a d y were l i k e , y a man, y o u came f r o m t h e s t a t e s , s o . . . I s i t gonna b e , i s i t , i s i t gonna be a p r o b l e m f o r us t o o ? [UI] I s i t a problem? I s i t gonna be a p r o b l e m f o r u s t o o ? No, no, 'cause I ' l l be o u t t h e r e .
SANTANA: KABIR:
THE CS:
s e n d y o u a message on h e r e . "
some b r o t h e r s 'bring
gather
(appearing
mujahideen). the
about, t h e r e a l
3i
58.
DELEON, SANTANA, a n d t h e CS d i s c u s s e d
t h e Skype
s e s s i o n a f t e r i t ended. wait
f o r them b u t he a l s o w a n t e d t o t r a i n
s o m e t h i n g h a p p e n s t o KABIR w h i l e
The CS a s k e d DELEON t o e x p l a i n t h e w o r d
and t h e t r a n s l a t i o n
SANTANA t h e n a d d e d t h a t t h e
DELEON a n d SANTANA a f f i r m e d t o t h e CS
t h e y w o u l d t r a i n i n a T a l i b a n camp a n d t h e n t h e y w o u l d move/ advance t o A l - Q a ' i d a . DELEON s a i d The CS a s k e d who t h e y were w i t h now. t o be w i t h t h e T a l i b a n . "
" r i g h t now, we a r e g o i n g
t o t h e CS t h a t t h e " p r o f e s s o r s " a r e A l -
When a s k e d who
"The B r i t i s h Army, t h e
39
including,
t h e U.S. A i r F o r c e , t h e U.N.,
contractors. because
i t was t h e most a c t i v e s p o t .
A f g h a n i s t a n t o "South C e n t r a l "
( r e f e r r i n g t o an a r e a o f L o s
Angeles h i s t o r i c a l l y associated with gang-related v i o l e n t crime). When t h e CS a s k e d SANTANA a b o u t p h y s i c a l training, RPGs, and
SANTANA r e f e r r e d t o g o i n g t o t h e r a n g e , a m m u n i t i o n , IEDs.
On S e p t e m b e r 4, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS p o s i t i v e l y
identified
KABIR v i a a p h o t o g r a p h . 62. SANTANA. making On S e p t e m b e r 5, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h DELEON a n d DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t n o t h i n g w o u l d stop him from
r e a d y t o go o v e r s e a s a n y t i m e a n d d i d n o t n e e d t o f i n i s h b e f o r e he g o e s . travel, shooting
When a s k e d a b o u t p r e p a r a t i o n s b e f o r e t h e y
K A B I R ' s s t a t e m e n t f r o m t h e Skype s e s s i o n r e g a r d i n g j o i n i n g t h e 40
students. Al-Qa'ida
DELEON a n d SANTANA a f f i r m e d t h e i r p l a n was t o j o i n after j o i n i n g the students. asked The CS a s k e d them what
them t o r e t u r n t o t h e U n i t e d appearing
After i n i t i a l l y
w o u l d c o n s i d e r i t i f he c o u l d r e t u r n t o A f g h a n i s t a n 63.
u n s u c c e s s f u l l y attempted
DELEON a b o u t t h e p e r s o n
s e c u r i t y measures.
s h o u l d a v o i d d i s c u s s i n g s p e c i f i c s and s a i d
Security.
r a n g e on Monday, S e p t e m b e r 10, 2 0 1 2 , a n d t h a t t h e y s h o u l d u s e a
41
DELEON s u g g e s t e d t h e
They u l t i m a t e l y a g r e e d w i t h t h e OS's s u g g e s t i o n
t h e t e r m "swap m e e t . "
DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE 65. On S e p t e m b e r 10, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS, DELEON, a n d SANTANA i n Los Angeles. t h e CS o b s e r v e d
went t o a f i r e a r m s r a n g e a.
t h a t DELEON a n d SANTANA w e r e e x c i t e d a b o u t t h e p r o s p e c t o f rewards range, While from b e i n g a shaheed (Arabic f o r martyr). While at the
f o r them t o s h o o t .
f o r going t o t h e s h o o t i n g range.
SANTANA
pistol.
DELEON s u g g e s t e d
t a r g e t s , which b.
weapons t r a i n i n g
DELEON
c h o i c e w o u l d be 'C-4' a n d h i s
t h i r d c h o i c e w o u l d be " m u r a b a t "
42
first
c h o i c e w o u l d be a s n i p e r , h i s s e c o n d c h o i c e was t o be on lines, c. a n d h i s t h i r d c h o i c e w o u l d be a r t i l l e r y . t h e CS w a n t e d t o be on t h e
the f r o n t
DELEON a s k e d w h e t h e r
front
l i n e s a n d t h e CS a g r e e d .
The CS r e p l i e d t o
SANTANA b y s a y i n g t h a t one w o u l d n o t n e e d t h a t b i g o f a t r u c k f o r C-4. SANTANA s a i d " I f I'm gonna do, I'm gonna do t h a t , I'm
(The CS i n f o r m e d a g e n t s t h a t ,
comment, he was r e f e r r i n g t o a l a r g e
t r u c k t h a t d r o v e b y them.) DEFENDANTS DISCUSS PLANS TO LEAVE THE UNITED STATES 66. On Monday, S e p t e m b e r 17, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h SANTANA
DELEON s a i d t h a t he
s c h o o l a n d s a i d t h a t he was g o i n g t o w i t h d r a w
t h e b e g i n n i n g o f November.
the t r i p t o o .
43
On S e p t e m b e r 18, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA, a n d t h e CS met their travel plans. DELEON t o l d night. t h e CS t h a t he DELEON told
discussed
c o m m u n i c a t e d w i t h KABIR t h e p r e v i o u s
originally suggested
KABIR
f r o m M e x i c o t o Germany, t o
t a l k w i t h an imam t o g e t a d v i c e DELEON t o l d
t h e men he p l a n n e d t o a d v i s e
DELEON f u r t h e r t o l d
h i k i n g t o get used t o t h e t e r r a i n
that i t
how h i s b o d y r e a c t s t o f e a r . receive h i s
t h e men t h a t he s h o u l d days.
reimbursement i n f i v e business
DELEON s a i d t h a t , paintball
d.
Outside
recently told
States m i l i t a r y .
saw h i m on t h e b a t t l e f i e l d ,
s a i d t h a t he t o l d h i s b r o t h e r 68.
t o j o i n the mujahideen i n s t e a d .
t o SANTANA, KABIR a l s o
KABIR t o l d
( B a s e d on my t r a i n i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c e
and t h e c o n t e x t o f
s t a t e m e n t , KABIR a p p e a r e d t o be r e f e r r i n g t o t h e s h e i k h o r with him during the above-described The CS a n d SANTANA go. According Skype
on A u g u s t 8, 2012.)
discussed
w o u l d s t a y when t h e y
t o SANTANA, KABIR
w o u l d l e t them s t a y a t " t h e i r h o u s e s o r t h e
Yemen.
a c t u a l l y take over t h e c i t i e s s a i d t h a t he q u e s t i o n e d
and enforce
s h a r i a l a w . " SANTANA
o u t b e c a u s e t h e y w e r e n o t on t h e i r
t h e y w o u l d go t o A f g h a n i s t a n i f KABIR was g o i n g t o go t o Yemen. SANTANA s a i d t h e y w o u l d n o t have t o s t a y i n one l o c a t i o n a n d t h a t "AQ" was t h e r e . first According t o SANTANA, KABIR s a i d that
t h e n c o u l d go do "umrah w h e r e v e r t h e y
DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A SECOND TIME 69. L a t e r o n S e p t e m b e r 20, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA a n d t h e T h i s was t h e i r s e c o n d they discussed the such
CS t r a v e l e d t o a s h o o t i n g r a n g e . trip. While
on t h e way t o t h e r a n g e ,
DELEON s a i d t h a t he a l r e a d y l o o k e d i n t o t r a v e l
a n d mom a l e t t e r . a letter
f o rh i s wives.
DELEON s a i d t h e CS c o u l d n o t do down
i f he c o u l d l i e i n t h e l e t t e r .
46
on t h e a i r l i n e .
DELEON e s t i m a t e d m i s c e l l a n e o u s e x p e n s e s
t h a t he s h o u l d h a v e b e e n p r e p a r i n g
t o go t o A f g h a n i s t a n f i v e y e a r s a g o . 70. While d r i v i n g f r o m t h e s h o o t i n g r a n g e , t h e CS a s k e d
t o g e t y o u a n d t o become
know, become
leave a l lt h i s a future,
. . . n o t y e t become
y a know, o r p o t e n t i a l m u j a h i d . "
t h a t when he met KABIR, a l l KABIR t a l k e d a b o u t was t h e t r u t h a n d religion. DELEON s a i d KABIR was " b a s i c a l l y a mujahid walking And He
t h e s t r e e t s o f LA.
He was j u s t w a i t i n g t o g e t h i s p a p e r s .
I met h i m a t t h e p o i n t o f h i s l i f e was a l r e a d y a m u j a h i d e e n
w a l k i n g around." 47
meeting
KABIR was l i k e m e e t i n g
L a d e n ' s camp who was " w a l k i n g i n L A . " s w o r e KABIR h a d b e e n a m u j a h i d t o r e c r u i t b r o t h e r s and l e f t . " i n v i t e e v e r y o n e who a c c e p t e d
h i s whole l i f e
dawa
i n f l u e n c e d by people, and
t o f i g h t f o r the r i g h t reason,
KABIR t a l k a n d
SANTANA s a i d he b e l i e v e d t h i s
where he was g o i n g t o be a b l e t o " f i t i n a n d a c t u a l l y be a b l e t o fight life, f o r something he a l w a y s c. jihad at f i r s t overseas. of view to. that's right." SANTANA s a i d t h a t i n h i s o l d
KABIR s t a r t e d t a l k i n g a b o u t A l - A w l a q i a n d h i s p o i n t he w o u l d listen
a n d how A l - A w l a q i was t h e o n l y p e r s o n
KABIR he was g o i n g t o go w i t h h i m .
DELEON t o g e t h i s c i t i z e n s h i p , b u t t h e n
48
anything. anymore."
d.
s m o k i n g , a n d l i s t e n i n g t o m u s i c , KABIR p l a y e d
t h a t i t " s h o o k h i m . " SANTANA s a i d he r e a l i z e d t h r o u g h KABIR t h a t h i s i d e a o f j o i n i n g t h e U.S. m i l i t a r y was wrong. s a i d he came t o I s l a m t h r o u g h f i s a b i l i l l a h . t h a t w i t h KABIR, " e v e r y t h i n g it. " e. using t h i s home. had to The CS a s k e d SANTANA a n d DELEON i f t h e y were looks SANTANA SANTANA explained
s o g o o d t h e way he e x p l a i n s
(jihad f i s a b i l i l l a h )
a s an e s c a p e f r o m p r o b l e m s a t SANTANA s a i d t h a t he
nothing
leave t h i n g s behind.
would
i f he makes h i j r a h i t was
abandons e v e r y t h i n g here,
a d d i n g t h a t he f e l t
p o i n t l e s s t o keep a n d h o l d on t o what he h a s h e r e . 71. it On S e p t e m b e r 20, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS a s k e d SANTANA a b o u t how an " A m e r i c a n , B r i t i s h , 49 Jew, ok, a wack
would f e e l t o take
SANTANA s a i d he "had
I d o n ' t know why I w o u l d have a i t was j u s t l i k e . . . ." a game t o me. SANTANA added . . . i f their
p r o b l e m now. It's
B e f o r e i t was l i k e
e i t h e r you e i t h e r k i l l
o r be k i l l e d
then that's
what i f an A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r h a d a w i f e affirmed
and k i d s .
When d e s c r i b i n g h i s p e r s o n a l
He t h e n s a i d t h a t he ( t h e o r a c c e p t t h e sword.
SANTANA w o u l d t e l l and
t h e s o l d i e r t o p i c k up h i s weapon a n d f i g h t alive."
" E i t h e r me o r y o u a r e gonna w a l k o u t o f h e r e
DEFENDANTS GO TO A PAINTBALL FACILITY 72. On S a t u r d a y , S e p t e m b e r 23, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA, went t o a p a i n t b a l l f a c i l i t y i n was t h e s e c o n d p a i n t b a l l t r i p f o r The CS reported that
f o r SANTANA a n d t h e CS.
p a i n t b a l l guns
resembled a s s a u l t
rifles.
( A r a b i c word r e f e r r i n g t o t h e
be p r e p a r a t i o n ,
preparation
forjihad.
t h e y were
I n r e s p o n s e , GOJALI s a i d
On S e p t e m b e r 24, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h
SANTANA a n d
t o t h e CS, o u t s i d e
o f DELEON's
p r e s e n c e , SANTANA s a i d t h a t he h a d r e s e a r c h e d ways t o t r a v e l overseas without arousing style c l o t h i n g ; being suspicion, i n c l u d i n g wearing and c l o s e l y shaven; Western-
clean-cut
carrying nothing
his to
p a s s p o r t had e x p i r e d and l a t e r
DELEON a n d SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t t h e y
a low p r o f i l e
i n anticipation of their
traditional
than h i s former d.
devised a cover s t o r y
f o rtheir
SANTANA h a d p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e
a n d DELEON h a d s t u d i e d m a r k e t i n g .
DELEON s u g g e s t e d
52
They t o l d t h e CS he business.
On S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 2012, DELEON t e l e p h o n e d
t h e CS a n d
meet," " s t u d e n t s , " and " p r o f e s s o r s . " w e r e g o i n g t o war a n d t o k i l l have i t i n you, f i g h t i n g replied, people
for fisabilallah,
killing?"
"Yeah, o f c o u r s e . "
GOJALI e x p l a i n e d t o t h e CS " y o u
know I w a t c h v i d e o s on t h e I n t e r n e t a n d I s e e what t h e y a r e doing t o our b r o t h e r s and s i s t e r s , c r y and i t gets l i k e , it I'm l i k e Walahi man, l i k e i t makes me
so angered
w i t h them y o u know a n d
o u r c o u n t r y a n d do t h a t t o
DELEON a t an a p a r t m e n t a n d a l l f o u r men p a r t i c i p a t e d
53
video c a l l
w i t h KABIR, w h i c h was r e c o r d e d .
KABIR i n f o r m e d t h e g r o u p
KABIR s a i d t h a t he w o u l d
c o n t i n u e t o work on m a k i n g o t h e r c o n n e c t i o n s f o r t h e g r o u p . Later during thec a l l , DELEON i n f o r m e d KABIR t h a t G O J A L I , who had j o i n e d t h e group. KABIR said
physical DELEON
s a i d t h a t he h a d j u s t s h a v e d clean-shaven so i t would
i t w o u l d b e s a f e r t o be
n o t appear
t h a t they a r e "sunnah"
DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A THIRD TIME 76. A f t e r t h e Skype c a l l , SANTANA, DELEON, G O J A L I , a n d t h e i nLos Angeles. W h i l e en r o u t e ,
CS t r a v e l e d t o a s h o o t i n g r a n g e
54
2012.
he a n d DELEON d i s c u s s e d 77.
A t t h e gun r a n g e , SANTANA a n d DELEON s e l e c t e d a n AKand an M16-styTe r i f l e turns firing t o s h o o t a n d t h e f o u r men The men t h e n
47-styTe r i f l e
t h e weapons.
DELEON e x p l a i n e d t o
DEFENDANTS PREPARE FOR THEIR DEPARTURE 78. and On O c t o b e r 3, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA, a n d t h e CS met t h e i r travel plans. DELEON t o l d t h e CS he h a d working
discussed
t h e y w o u l d meet i n S a u d i DELEON s a i d
Arabia
t h e i r primary
p l a n was
s e c o n d a r y p l a n was Yemen.
on-line conversation
t o l d them t o n o t b u y t h e i r p l a n e
y e t b e c a u s e he was DELEON
w o r k i n g w i t h one o f h i s c o n n e c t i o n s said
a n d h a d g o o d news.
t o provide DELEON t o l d
directions regarding
route.
t h e CS t h a t GOJALI was s t i l l
i n on t h e p l a n .
The CS a s k e d
DELEON a b o u t G O J A L I ' s a n d SANTANA's f i n a n c i n g o f t h e t r i p . DELEON s a i d t h a t GOJALI p l a n n e d t o r e c e i v e some u n p a i d from a p r e v i o u s j o b a n d t h a t DELEON was g o i n g to talk wages with
SANTANA a b o u t g e t t i n g a j o b . 80. recorded On O c t o b e r 9, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON s p o k e t o KABIR i n a conversation, w h i c h I have r e v i e w e d . During the f o r "bugs," t h a t he a l r e a d y DELEON t h a t
KABIR t o l d
GOJALI t o l d t h e CS he was s t i l l
f o r b o t h GOJALI a n d SANTANA.
s a i d he was i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e j o b a s i t w o u l d p r o v i d e money f o r t h e i r t r i p .
needed
t h e y w o u l d n o t have t o w o r r y
about
prepare f o r f i s a b i l i l l a h .
t h e p o t e n t i a l o f t h e men m e e t i n g i n S a u d i
f o r umrah
(understood and
h e r e t o r e f e r t o a r e l i g i o u s p i l g r i m a g e t o Mecca) s h o u l d go a f t e r H a j j a n d t h e n continue on t o
t h a t they
Afghanistan.
f o r "the orphans."
(As d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , KABIR, DELEON, a n d SANTANA have p r e v i o u s l y u s e d t h e code word " s t u d e n t s " t o r e f e r t o t h e T a l i b a n . ) 82. On O c t o b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met DELEON i n C h i n o , a n d t h e two d i s c u s s e d a S k y p e c o n v e r s a t i o n b e t w e e n According to
California,
DELEON, KABIR t o l d DELEON t h a t m e e t i n g i n S a u d i A r a b i a was no l o n g e r an o p t i o n ; KABIR h a d l e a r n e d t h e r e were no v i s a s i s s u e d by t h e Saudi g o v e r n m e n t due t o t h e H a j j . KABIR being suggested
DELEON t h a t h i s c o n n e c t i o n out.
i n Afghanistan
was c o n t i n u i n g t o
DELEON t o l d t h e CS i t was a good i d e a t o s e n d money t o they t r a v e l i n order t o i n g r a t i a t e themselves DELEON a d d e d t h a t he p l a n n e d to sell with
KABIR b e f o r e
the mujahideen.
t o s e n d some o f
h i s c a r a n d p a s s some o f t h e
57
83.
I have r e v i e w e d a r e c o r d i n g o f a n O c t o b e r 1 1 , 2012, about t r a v e l p l a n s b e t w e e n DELEON, SANTANA, and DELEON s a i d "As s o o n a s I g e t i t KABIR replied send
conversation KABIR.
Regarding h i s passport,
[referring
t o t h e p a s s p o r t ] , t h a t ' s i t man."
"Insha'Allah." Miguel
SANTANA a g r e e d a n d a d v i s e d he
w o u l d be w i l l i n g t o l e a v e 84. On O c t o b e r
w i t h KABIR a n d t h a t KABIR was j u s t w a i t i n g f o r t h e g r o u p SANTANA a n d t h e CS p i c k e d up DELEON a n d t h e t h r e e Afterward, the three discussed their h i s carto GOJALI's
arrive.
went t o g e t d i n n e r . upcoming t r i p .
DELEON s a i d trip.
t h a t he p l a n n e d t o s e l l When SANTANA a s k e d a b o u t
g e t money f o r t h e i r passport,
DELEON s a i d
t h a t he a n d GOJALI p l a n n e d t o go t o t h e and t h a t
DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he
The men h a d
and t r a v e l i n g
England,
man. like
p l a c e t o be. . . . t h e y
just
extradited
o u t o f U.K. t o t h e U.S."
Later i n
f i n d the caravan,
KABIR
"Yeah.
appeared t o r e f e r t o j o i n i n g a t e r r o r i s t
t i c k e t s a n d t o l d DELEON t h e y n e e d e d t o r e s e r v e
i n c l u d e d t h e note (A.S.A.P)
o f i t b e c a u s e I'm l e a v i n g t h e c o u n t r y The a d l i s t e d
Need money
fast." During
a m e e t i n g on F e b r u a r y
t h e same t e l e p h o n e same t e l e p h o n e
number was a l s o f o u n d
b y CBP on a p i e c e o f p a p e r
KABIR
SANTANA t h a t t h e men n e e d e d t o o b t a i n t h e i r v i s a s and t h a t he (KABIR) met a p e r s o n who h a s " c o n n e c t s " t o "AQ" i n P a k i s t a n . When SANTANA a d v i s e d plans, h i m t o n o t speak so o p e n l y about their
KABIR s a i d t h e y were j u s t t a l k i n g
about t h e "orphans."
I reviewed a recording
DELEON a n d KABIR on O c t o b e r 22, 2 0 1 2 , i n w h i c h t h e two men discussed told m e e t i n g i n Dubai and s n e a k i n g into Afghanistan. them do t h a t KABIR "yet."
DELEON he d i d n o t h a v e c o n t a c t s 89.
t o help
On O c t o b e r 27, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS t o l d a g e n t s t h a t
DELEON
Western wired
Afghanistan.
DELEON a n d DELEON h a d
t o l i v e with h i s g i r l f r i e n d . forfisabilillah,
preparation iman
he w a n t e d t o f i l l
(Arabic f o r f a i t h ) . living
longer
with h i s g i r l f r i e n d .
60
i n c l u d i n g t h e need t o o b t a i n GOJALI's
United
of everything
intended he
t o leave before
t h e group a r r i v e d .
DELEON t o l d
was j u s t w a i t i n g f o r h i s p a s s p o r t
t o come on November 8 t h .
KABIR a s s u r e d
DELEON t h a t t h e men he (KABIR) was s u p p o s e d t o "know e v e r y t h i n g , they know y o u guys that there
KABIR c o n f i r m e d
When KABIR t o l d
DELEON t h a t t h e y
and
GOJALI i n C h i n o , C a l i f o r n i a .
recorded,
DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he s p o k e t o - K A B I R . 61
i n Kabul f o r the t o go on
provided
i n f o r m a t i o n f o r an a s s o c i a t e
( i n Kabul) i n t h e event
t h a t KABIR d i d n o t r e t u r n f r o m t h e m i s s i o n . 93. recorded On November 2, 2012, KABIR s p o k e w i t h DELEON i n a conversation. KABIR t o l d DELEON he d i d n o t go on t h e r e f e r r i n g t o DELEON's During t h e
(likely
f o r them).
KABIR:
Ok, c h e c k t h i s o u t . E v e r y t h i n g i s s e t . We a l r e a d y made shura and e v e r y t h i n g i s s e t . We a r e g e t t i n g o u r t i c k e t s i n s h a h a l l a h t h i s week a n d e v e r y t h i n g i s good. We h a v e no p r o b l e m g e t t i n g i n t o D u b a i , t h a t ' s i t . And t o g e t i n t o AF-G, we a l r e a d y f i g u r e d o u t t h e p e r f e c t s t o r y . DELEON t h e n d i s c u s s e d how t h e men w o u l d u s e t h e c o v e r are t r a v e l i n g t o Afghanistan i n Kabul. KABIR t o l d story they
t o a t t e n d KABIR's f i c t i o n a l
wedding
DELEON t h a t upon t h e i r a r r i v a l ,
t h e men
c o u l d have t o w a i t me [KABIR] l i k e
(appearing told
t o r e f e r t o being
group).
DELEON t h a t he r e c e n t l y i d e n t i f i e d
an i n d i v i d u a l i n
Afghanistan
able t o a s s i s t
DELEON t o h a v e e v e r y o n e p a c k w i n t e r a t t i r e . 62
DELEON t o r e t r i e v e KABIR's " m i l i t a r y g e a r , my u n i f o r m s " them i n h i s (DELEON's) conversation got real, luggage.
and p u t
s o n . " DELEON i n f o r m e d 4 a n d 5, 2 0 1 2 .
t h e CS o f h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n
On November
DELEON i n f o r m e d
that they
f o rthe mission
also told
On November During
GOJALI.
t o p a c k a n d DELEON a d v i s e d
were t o b r i n g
s h o e s ; DELEON
The CS r e p o r t e d
DELEON, SANTANA, a n d GOJALI a s k e d a n a s s o c i a t e t o d r i v e them t o M e x i c o when t h e y informed leave. The a s s o c i a t e a g r e e d t o do s o . were g o i n g to obtain tickets to go t o a t r a v e l a g e n c y on DELEON
t h e CS t h a t t h e y
Afghanistan November
8, 2 0 1 2 .
I n t h e CS's p r e s e n c e , SANTANA r e s e a r c h e d t h e
63
tickets
13 o r November
phone a n d s t a t e d t h a t he (SANTANA) s p o k e w i t h KABIR r e c e n t l y . According t o SANTANA, KABIR s a i d t h a t " t h e b r o t h e r s " were to arrive. KABIR a d v i s e d SANTANA asking that
when t h e g r o u p was g o i n g
8, 2 0 1 2 , so 9, 2 0 1 2 , t o
i n K a b u l on F r i d a y , November
on a " m i s s i o n "
several be a
DELEON s a i d i f KABIR g o e s on t h e m i s s i o n ,
i twill
KABIR m i g h t be g o i n g
DELEON GETS HIS PASSPORT AND SEARCHES ON-LINE FOR FLIGHTS 98. On November 8, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS p i c k e d up SANTANA a n d t h e n W h i l e en r o u t e , SANTANA
d r o v e t o meet w i t h DELEON a n d G O J A L I .
s p o k e w i t h DELEON a n d a s k e d what SANTANA b e l i e v e d a b o u t t h e reference replied 99. and t o t h e "one-way t r i p . " According t o t h e CS, SANTANA
the following a.
previous mission
i n v o l v i n g C4 e x p l o s i v e s .
on a n o t h e r m i s s i o n .
w i l l i n g n e s s t o go on a s u i c i d e m i s s i o n trust
wedding i n v i t a t i o n s
The i n v i t a t i o n s w o u l d be f i c t i o n a l 65
the
f o u r men.
The g r o u p p l a n n e d
t o present
the i n v i t a t i o n s DELEON
upon
arrival
i n Kabul
t o e x p l a i n t h e i r presence there. t o p i c k up t h e i n v i t a t i o n s
a d v i s e d t h a t he i n t e n d e d relative. c.
f r o m KABIR's
P h i l i p p i n e s Consulate passport
DELEON t h e n in
Santa Monica.
DELEON t o l d
SANTANA t r i e d
c o n s u l a t e b u t r e t u r n e d a n d a d v i s e d t h e men t h a t t h e c o n s u l a t e was closed. d. The men t h e n traveled to the Federal Building i n He r e t u r n e d a s h o r t while
application.
GOJALI s a i d he was t o l d
t h e same d a y i f he h a d
1) d e p a r t
and arrange
where t h e y w o u l d a r r a n g e
t h e i r v i s a s i n t h e U.S., w h i c h
66
w o u l d d e l a y t h e i r d e p a r t u r e b y one o r two d a y s .
DELEON t o l d t h
d i s c u s s e d g o i n g t o t h e s h o o t i n g r a n g e on t h a t Monday a s w e l l . DELEON s a i d his car. g. travel DELEON a n d SANTANA s p e n t t i m e c a l l i n g t h r e e about t i c k e t s f o rt h e i r departure. he w o u l d p a y f o r t h e r a n g e s i n c e he w i l l have sold
agency
DELEON a d v i s e d t h e q u o t e d i n d i v i d u a l ticket
was $1,500 f o r a r o u n d t r i p
from Mexico C i t y t o
Istanbul, 100.
T u r k e y , d e p a r t i n g on November 1 4 t h o r 1 5 t h . On November 13, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h DELEON, SANTANA i n Chino. DELEON u s e d a l a p t o p computer t o Dubai,
and GOJALI a t a n a p a r t m e n t a. to
At t h e apartment,
search on-line f o r f l i g h t
o p t i o n s from Mexico C i t y
w h i c h t h e men d i s c u s s e d . the
DELEON a s k e d t h e CS t o b u y t i c k e t s f o f o r himself
CS a n d f o r G O J A L I , w h i l e he w o u l d b u y t i c k e t s The CS a g r e e d .
DELEON s u g g e s t e d t h e y b u y GOJALI'
GOJALI's p a s s p o r t .
filling
out h i s passport
application,
w h i c h he b r o u g h t w i t h h i m
t h e a p a r t m e n t a n d d r o v e t o DELEON's
At the residence,
DELEON u s e d a c o m p u t e r l o c a t e d DELEON f o u n d a
room t o c o n d u c t I n t e r n e t r e s e a r c h . on U n i t e d A i r l i n e s
round-trip ticket
d e p a r t i n g M e x i c o C i t y on (through W a s h i n g t o n DC
The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e c o s t o f t h a t was
ticket,
approximately
$1,350.
i t i n e r a r y because i t i n c l u d e d a stop i n s i d e t h e United DELEON s a i d i t w o u l d n o t be a p r o b l e m . itinerary, f o r GOJALI. c. Bank. the The After finding
DELEON a s k e d t h e CS f o r $1,400 t o p u r c h a s e t h e t i c k e t The CS a g r e e d a n d gave DELEON $1,400 i n c a s h . The CS a n d DELEON t h e n d r o v e t o a W e l l s Fargo advised
CS t h a t he h a d d e p o s i t e d men r e t u r n e d
for flights
i n the United
G O J A L I ' s name a n d i d e n t i f y i n g
i n f o r m a t i o n and b o u g h t a
t i c k e t u s i n g DELEON's d e b i t c a r d . 68
The CS o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e
i t i n e r a r y - i n d i c a t e d a d e p a r t u r e f r o m M e x i c o C i t y on Sunday, November 18, 2 0 1 2 , w i t h a f i n a l (stopping i n Frankfurt, d e s t i n a t i o n o f D u b a i , UAE After purchasing the ticket,
Germany).
t o depart f o r Mexico.
men d e p a r t e d f o r t h e f e d e r a l b u i l d i n g
DELEON s a i d he was e x p e c t i n g
f r o m KABIR a n d g o t o u t o f t h e c a r t o w a i t
He c h e c k e d t h e m a i l a n d r e t u r n e d t o t h e c a r . that
and w a l k e d t o w a r d t h e b u i l d i n g . the
As t h e y d i d s o , DELEON s e a r c h e d
GOJALI e n t e r e d t h e b u i l d i n g A t one p o i n t ,
h i s passport).
DELEON a s k e d t h e CS f o r $100,
w h i c h t h e CS g a v e t o DELEON. building
DELEON t h e n w a l k e d i n s i d e t h e
( p r e s u m a b l y t o h e l p GOJALI p a y t h e p a s s p o r t f e e ) .
69
f.
s e v e r a l minutes l a t e r and r e p o r t e d be
i s o k a y t o m o r r o w i f GOJALI g e t s h i s p a s s p o r t SANTANA s a i d i f t h e r e
problems.
GOJALI's p a s s p o r t , (implying
t h a t w o u l d mean t h a t
government i n v o l v e m e n t / i n t e r d i c t i o n ) .
to s e l l
DELEON s a i d he The CS
would a p p r i s e
Individual A of t h e i r
situation.
p l a n n e d t o d e p a r t f o r M e x i c o on DELEON t o l d t h e CS t o be a t t h e
go t o L o s A n g e l e s t o p i c k up G O J A L I ' s i. Later,
SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he p l a n n e d t o
t a l k to h i s brother
70
101.
t h e F B I i n t e r v i e w e d an whom t h e
e m p l o y e e o f t h e U.S. p a s s p o r t FBI
i n Los Angeles,
The e m p l o y e e
a p p l i c a t i o n and s u p p o r t i n g
documentation and i d e n t i f i e d
p h o t o a s t h e p e r s o n who s u b m i t t e d t h e
p a i d GOJALI's a p p l i c a t i o n f e e .
GOJALI c l a i m e d
t h a t t h e p u r p o s e f o r h i s t r a v e l was t o go t o funeral.
t h e CS met w i t h to travel to
f e d e r a l b u i l d i n g i n L o s A n g e l e s t o p i c k up G O J A L I ' s The g r o u p t r a v e l e d t o t h e f e d e r a l b u i l d i n g , where, a t 1:30 p.m., GOJALI p i c k e d up h i s U.S. p a s s p o r t . s u r p r i s e t h a t he was o f " i f they only
passport.
approximately According
t o t h e CS, GOJALI e x p r e s s e d
and s a i d words t o t h e e f f e c t
t o make
preparations
t h a t DELEON s o l d h i s
c a r f o r $4,000 l a t e r t h a t e v e n i n g ,
a n d t h a t DELEON d e p o s i t e d t h e
him
According to
a d v i s e d t h e g r o u p t h a t t h i s p l a n h a d c h a n g e d t o a 1:00 p.m. expected departure 103. time. l a t e r i n t h e e v e n i n g on November w i t h KABIR a n d DELEON told
The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t ,
C i t y on November notarized
wedding i n v i t a t i o n s Afghanistan.
f o r t h e i r u s e when t h e y a r r i v e d i n K a b i r t o s e n d h i m a message
DELEON t o l d
r e f e r e n c i n g t h e L a k e r s a f t e r KABIR s e n t t h e e - m a i l a n d t h a t he (DELEON) w o u l d know what t h a t means. b r i n g him socks and c o l d 104. medicine. w i t h KABIR, KABIR a s k e d t h e men t o
The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t a f t e r t h e S k y p e c a l l tickets
DELEON a t t e m p t e d - t o p u r c h a s e
that n i g h t t o purchase
tickets.
t e l e p h o n e a b o u t r e c e n t e v e n t s w i t h DELEON, SANTANA a n d G O J A L I . 72
I have spoken
t o t h e s e a g e n t s a n d l e a r n e d t h a t t h e CS
reported
t o DELEON a s h i s c o n t r i b u t i o n f o r t h e t r i p .
due t o a
t h e money t o t h e CS; t h e CS t h e n
computer t o purchase f o u r t i c k e t s
73
N. T. E L I A S S p e c i a l Agent, FBI
SHERJ PYM