GCIS INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING: Virginia Man Sentenced for Supporting al Shabaab, Encouraging Jihadists to Kill U.S. Citizens

 

ISSUED BY: GCIS Communications Command Center

SOURCE: FBI

25February2011 12:06pmEST

GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE:  WASHINGTON - Zachary Adam Chesser, 21, of Fairfax County, Virginia, was sentenced today to 25 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for communicating threats against the writers of the South Park television show, soliciting violent jihadists to desensitize law enforcement, and attempting to provide material support to al Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

The sentencing was announced by David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division; Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and James W. McJunkin, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI Washington Field Office.

"Zachary Chesser attempted to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and used the Internet to incite violence," said Assistant Attorney General Kris. "Today he is being held accountable for his actions. I applaud the many agents, prosecutors, and analysts who worked tirelessly to bring this man to justice."

"Zachary Chesser will spend 25 years in prison for advocating the murder of U.S. citizens for engaging in free speech about his religion," said U.S. Attorney MacBride. "His actions caused people throughout the country to fear speaking out—even in jest—to avoid being labeled as enemies who deserved to be killed.

The fact that a young man from Northern Virginia could support such violence and terror is a sobering reminder of the serious threat that homegrown jihadists pose to this country." (read full report)

"GCIS INTELLIGENCE UPDATE" is an intelligence briefing presented by Griffith Colson Intelligence Service, and provided to the public for informative purposes only. All subject matter is credited to it's source of origin, and is not intended to represent original content authored by GCIS, it's partners or affiliates. All opinions presented are those of the author, and not necessarily those of GCIS or it's partners.