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CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

(COIPYC E N T R A L DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

UNITED STATES OF A M E R I C A

v.

SOHIEL OMAR KABIR,

RALPH KENNETH DELEON,

MIGUEL ALEJANDRO SANTANA VIDRIALES, andARIFEEN DAVID GOJALI,

DEFENDANTS.

DOCKET NO.

MAGISTRATE'S CASENO.

12-

CL' - r>K ' J15 ' - - COURT

mi 1 1 * *

CE^iRAL DISTRICT OF GhLi, A

2 _(yolff

Complaint for Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339A: Conspiring to Provide Material Support

and Resources to Terrorists

NAME OF Mj^STSAfE JUDGE

H O N O R A B L E SpERI P Y M

DiVTE OF OFFENSE

UNITED STATES

MAGISTRATE JUDGE

LOCATION

Riverside, California

1

August 2010 tijPrei^nt

PLACE OF OFFENSE

Riverside, San Bernardino,

and Los Angeles Counties

ADDRESS OF ACCUSED (IF KNOWN)

COMPLAINANT1

|^TMeMENT;rpF FACTS CONSTITUTING THE OFFENSE OR VIOLATION:

Beginning on or about August 2010 and continuing to the present, defendants SOHIEL OMAR KABIR, RALPH

KENNETH DELEON, MIGUEL ALEJANDRO SANTANA VIDRIALES, and ARIFEEN 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 CHA RG E AGAINST THE A C C U S E D :

(See attached affidavit which is incorporated as part ofthis Complaint)

MATERIAL WITNESSES IN RELATION TO THIS CHARGE:

Being duly sworn, I declare that the

foregoing i s true andcorrect to the

best of my knowledge.

SIGNATURE OF COMPLAINANT

N.T. EliashL

OFFICIAL TITLE

SPECIAL AGENT - Federal Bureau ofInvestigation

Sworn to before me and subscribed i n my presence,

SIGNATURE OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE(1)

SHERiPYM

DATE

November 16, 20121) See Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure r u l e s 3 and 54.

(SJD, CDG, AWC) REC: Detention


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

BACKGROUND INFORMATION 4

SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE 4

THE DEFENDANTS 7

S o h i e l Omar KABIR 7

R a l p h K e n n e t h DELEON 7

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 8

A r i f e e n David GOJALI 8

RELEVANT GROUPS 8

AL-QA' IDA 8

THE TALIBAN 9

SUMMARY OF THE FACTS 9

DEFENDANTS' SOC IAL MEDIA 15

DEFENDANTS' STATEMENTS TO THE CS 19

SANTANA RENEWS HIS PASSPORT 27

DELEON AND SANTANA DISCUSS JOINING TERRORIST GROUPS 28

DEFENDANTS DISCUSS KABIR'S TRAVEL TO AFGHANISTAN 31

DEFENDANTS DISCUS S TRAVELIN G TO AFGHANISTAN

TO JOIN KABIR 34

DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE 42

DEFENDANTS DISCUSS PLANS TO LEAV E THE UNITED STATES 4 3

DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A SECOND TIME 46

DEFENDANTS GO TO A PAI NTBA LL FACILITY 50

DELEON RECRUITS GOJALI TO JOIN THE PLOT 53

DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A THIRD TIME 54

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT.)

DEFENDANTS PREPARE FOR THEIR DEPARTURE 55

DELEON GETS HIS PASSPORT AND SEARCHES

ON-LINE FOR FLIGHTS 65

GOJALI GETS HIS PASSPORT 71

DELEON PURCHASES AIRLINE TICKETS 72

CONCLUSION 74

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AFFIDAVIT

INTRODUCTION

I , N. T. E l i a s , being duly sworn, s t a t e as f o l l o w s :

1. I am a S p e c i a l Agent w i t h t h e F e d e r a l Bureau o f

I n v e s t i g a t i o n ("FBI") and have been so employed since January

23, 2005. P r i o r t o b e i n g employed w i t h the FBI, I was employed

from J u l y o f 1998 through January o f 2005 w i t h t h e Washington

S t a t e P a t r o l , f i r s t as a T r o o p e r and then as a D e t e c t i v e . W i t h

the FBI, I have worked i n v e s t i g a t i o n s i n v o l v i n g organized crime

k i d n a p p i n g , f u g i t i v e s , bank robbery, drug t r a f f i c k i n g ,

e x t o r t i o n , f r a u d , and t e r r o r i s m . My c u r r e n t assignment w i t h t h

FBI i s i n the Los Angeles F i e l d O f f i c e , R i v e r s i d e R e s i d e n t

Agency, a s s i g n e d t o the J o i n t T e r r o r i s m Task Force ("JTTF").

S i n c e November o f 2009, I have been a s s i g n e d t o work

i n t e r n a t i o n a l t e r r o r i s m . I have r e c e i v e d s p e c i a l i z e d t r a i n i n g

i n t e r r o r i s m and weapons o f mass d e s t r u c t i o n .

2. This a f f i d a v i t i s submitted for t h e purpose o f

e s t a b l i s h i n g p r o b a b l e cause t h a t b e g i n n i n g i n a p p r o x i m a t e l y

August 2010 and c o n t i n u i n g t h r o u g h t o th e p r e s e n t , i n v a r i o u s

c i t i e s w i t h i n t h e C e n t r a l D i s t r i c t o f C a l i f o r n i a , and elsewhere

SOHIEL OMAR KABIR ("KABIR"); RALPH DELEON, a l s o known as ("aka"

" R a f i q Abdul Raheem," aka "Ya Seen," aka "Ya S i n " ("DELEON");

MIGUEL SANTANA, aka "Muhammad K h a l i d M i k a e e l K h a t t a b "

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("SANTANA"); and ARIFEEN DAVID GOJALI, aka " A r i f e e n G h a z a l i , "

a ka " 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 G o j a l i " ("GOJALI")

c o n s p i r e d t o p r o v i d e m a t e r i a l support and r e s o u rc e s , i n c l u d i n g

b u t not l i m i t e d t o p r o p e r t y , s e r v i c e s , and p e r s o nn e l , i n c l u d i n g

t h e m s e l v e s , knowing and i n t e n d i n g t h a t they be used 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, c r i m e s of t e r r o r i s m ,

i n c l u d i n g c o n s p i r a c y t o k i l l , k i d n a p , maim, or i n j u r e p e r s o n s

and damage p r o p e r t y i n a f o r e i g n c o u n t r y i n v i o l a t i o n of T i t l e

18 , U n i t e d S t a t e s Code, S e c t i o n 956; k i l l i n g and a t t e m p t i n g t o

k i l l o f f i c e r s and employe es of the U n i t e d S t a t e s and a g e n c i e s of

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Government w h i l e such o f f i c e r s and employees

a r e o u t s i d e t he U n i t e d S t a t e s i n v i o l a t i o n o f T i t l e 18, U n i t e d

S t a t e s Code, S e c t i o n 1114; k i l l i n g n a t i o n a l s of th e U n i t e d

S t a t e s w h i l e such n a t i o n a l s a r e o u t s i d e th e U n i t e d S t a t e s i n

v i o l a t i o n o f T i t l e 18, U n i t e d S t a t e s Code, S e c t i o n 2 3 3 2 ( b ) ;

c o n s p i r i n g t o us e a weapon of mass d e s t r u c t i o n o u t s i de t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s i n v i o l a t i o n of T i t l e 18, U n i t e d S t a t e s Code,

S e c t i o n 2 3 3 2 a ( b ) ; and bombing p l a c e s of p u b l i c use and

government f a c i l i t i e s i n v i o l a t i o n o f T i t l e 18, U n i t e d S t a t e s

Code, S e c t i o n 2332f; a l l i n v i o l a t i o n o f T i t l e 18, U n i t e d S t a t e s

Code, S e c t i o n 2339A.

3. The f a c t s s e t f o r t h i n t h i s a f f i d a v i t a re b a s e d upon

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 and e x p e r i e n c e , and

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i n f o r m a t i o n o b t a i n e d from v a r i o u s FBI a g e n t s , Task Force

O f f i c e r s , w i t n e s s e s , r e p o r t s , and o t h e r s o u r c e s . T h i s a f f i d a v i t

i s i n t e n d e d t o show m e r e l y t h a t t h e r e i s s u f f i c i e n t p r o b a b l e

cause t o s u p p o r t t h e r e q u es t e d a r r e s t w a r r a n t s and c r i m i n a l

c o m p l a i n t c h a r g i n g KABIR, DELEON, SANTANA, and GOJALI w i t h

v i o l a t i o n s o f f e d e r a l law. A c c o r d i n g l y , t h i s a f f i d a v i t does no t

p u r p o r t to set f o r t h a l l f a c t s known t o me or th e FBI r e g a r d i n g

t h i s m a t t e r . U n l e s s s p e c i f i c a l l y i n d i c a t e d o t h e r wi s e , a l l

c o n v e r s a t i o n s and s t a t e m e n t s d e s c r i b e d i n t h i s a f f i d a v i t a r e

r e l a t e d i n s u b s t a n c e and i n p a r t o n l y . 1 Summaries of

c o n v e r s a t i o n s do not i n c l u d e r e f e r e n c e s t o a l l t o p i c s c ov er ed i n

t h e communications. A l l v e r b a t i m q u o t a t i o n s o f v e r b a l

s t a t e m e n t s a r e p r e l i m i n a r y and d r a f t o n l y . V e r b a t i m q u o t a t i o n s

o f w r i t t e n s t a t e m e n t s i n c l u d e o r i g i n a l e r r o r s . A l l d a t e s are

a p p r o x i m a t e .

///

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 o f A r a b i c

words and p h r a s e s ar e o f f e r e d f o r ease o f r e f e r en c e . A d d i t i o n a l

i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g the s u b j e c t s ' use of c e r t a i n language i so f f e r e d where a p p r o p r i a t e and r e s t s on the t o t a l i t y of th e

i n v e s t i g a t i o n t o d a t e , t h e c o n t e x t of the s t a t e m e n t s 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 ur c es of 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 and a g e n t s who are 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

t e r r o r i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s g e n e r a l l y .

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE

4. As d e s c r i b e d i n more d e t a i l below, e v i d e n c e shows t h a t

i n 2010, KABIR i n f l u e n c e d SANTANA and DELEON t o c o n v e r t t o I s l a m

a n d i n t r o d u c e d SANTANA and DELEON t o r a d i c a l and v i o l e n t I s l a m i c

d o c t r i n e , i n c l u d i n g by p o s t i n g c o n t e nt o n - l i n e and by d i r e c t i n g

SANTANA and DELEON t o m a t e r i a l s f e a t u r i n g now-deceased A l - Q a ' i d a

i n t h e A r a b i a n P e n i n s u l a s p o k e s p e r s o n Anwar A l - A w l a q i 2 and o t h e r

e x t r e m i s t m a t e r i a l s d i s s e m i n a t e d v i a t h e I n t e r n e t . T h e re a f t e r ,

KABIR c o n t i n u e d t o p o s t r a d i c a l c o n t e n t t o s o c i a l media s i t e s ,

some o f w h i c h DELEON and SANTANA r e v i e w e d and commented on,

i n c l u d i n g as d e s c r i b e d i n p a r a g r a p h s 26 t h r o u g h 28 below.

A c c o r d i n g t o a March 2010 r e p o r t by t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

M i l i t a r y Academy a t West P o i n t ' s Combating T e r r o r i s m Center

("CTC"), "Anwar a l - s A w l a q i : P r o f i l e of a J i h a d i R a d i c a l i z e r "byC h r i s t o p h e r H e f f e l f i n g e r ,

A l - s A w l a q i has a l r e a d y s e r v e d t o r a d i c a l i z e a s i z e a b l e

number o f young 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 and 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 about

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

l a w ) . He has t r a n s l a t e d and d i s c u s s e d famous A r a b i c -

language 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 and a r t i c l e s , as

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 of 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 p r o c e s s , s e r v i n g as a c r i t i c a l l i n kt h a t t a k e s d e d i c a t e d s t u d e n t s of S a l a f i - j i h a d i i d e o l o g y

from an i n s p i r a t i o n a l t o an o p e r a t i o n a l mode. A c c o r d i n g l y ,

a l - ' A w l a q i ' s g r e a t e s t s i g n i f i c a n c e l i e s i n h i s a b i l i t y t o

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 p r o v e n

t a l e n t t o d r i v e b e l i e v e r s i n t o a c t i o n .

CTC Sentinel, March 2010, Volume 3, I s s u e 3.

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5. On December 28, 2011, KABIR t r a v e l e d from the U n i t e d

S t a t e s t o Germany, where he remained u n t i l J u l y 2012. On J u l y

24, 2012, 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 Dubai, United Arab

E m i r a t e s . Records show t h a t , i n J u l y 2012, KABIR o b t a i n e d a

one-way t i c k e t t o t r a v e l from Amsterdam t o K a b u l , A f g h a n i s t a n ,

v i a K i e v and Dubai. In te rn et Pr ot oc ol ("IP") r e c o r d s f o r one of

KABIR's o n - l i n e a c c ou n t s show t h a t KABIR subsequently logged i n

t o h i s account from an IP address tha t re so lv ed t o A f g h a n i s t a n .

6. 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 communicated w i t h

SANTANA and DELEON and encouraged SANTANA and DELEON t o t r a v e l

from the 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 . KABIR

informed SANTANA and DELEON t h a t he had arranged f o r SANTANA's

and DELEON's a r r i v a l i n A f g h a n i s t a n . KABIR informed SANTANA and

DELEON t h a t he had made c o n t a c t s i n A f g h a n i s t a n and t h a t he

i n t e n d e d t o depart f o r t r a i n i n g but would w a i t u n t i l SANTANA and

DELEON r e a c h e d A f g h a n i s t a n . KABIR informed SANTANA and DELEON

t h a t , upon t h e i r a r r i v a l , the t h r e e men i n i t i a l l y would j o i n

" t h e 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 , b e f o r e j o i n i n g "the

p r o f e s s o r s , " r e f e r r i n g t o A l - Q a ' i d a .

7. During the i n v e s t i g a t i o n , SANTANA and DELEON informed

an FBI c o n f i d e n t i a l source (the "CS")3

that they planned t o

3 The CS i s an i n d i v i d u a l who has been r e p o r t i n g t o t he FBI

f u l l - t i m e f o r over 4.5 years and has p r o v i d e d c r e d i b l e and

r e l i a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n i n the p a s t . As of a p p r o x i m a t e l y l a t e

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t r a v e l from the U n i t e d S t a t e s to engage i n v i o l e n t j i h a d 4 and

t h a t t h e y had p l a n n e d t o do so s i n c e the time KABIR c o n v e r t e d

them t o I s l a m . D u r i n g c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h the CS, SANTANA and

DELEON d e s c r i be d p o t e n t i a l t a r g e t s f o r v i o l e n t a t t a c k s ,

i n c l u d i n g o v e r s e a s A m e r i c a n m i l i t a r y p e r s o n n e l and b a s e s . At

v a r i o u s t i m e s , SANTANA and DELEON a l s o d i s c u s s e d t h e i r p r e f e r r e d

r o l e s i n c o m m i t t i n g v i o l e n t j i h a d . For example, SANTANA s t a t e d

t h a t he had e x p e r i e n c e w i t h f i r e a r m s and t h a t he wanted t o

becomea

s n i p e r .DELEON

s t a t e d t h a the wanted to be on the

f r o n t l i n e s and t h a t h i s second c h o i c e would be e x p l o s i v e s .

When the CS a s k e d SANTANA whether he would be a b l e t o k i l l an

enemy, SANTANA s a i d he would have no p r o b l e m doing so. When

a s k e d a s i m i l a r q u e s ti o n , DELEON s a i d t h a t he would "blow h i s

[ r e f e r r i n g to an enemy's] b r a i n s out and send him t o , t o

jahannam [ A r a b i c f o r h e l l ] . " In September 2012, DELEON and

O c t o b e r 2012, the CS has r e c e i v e d o v e r $250,000 i n payments from

t h e government as 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 c o n v i c t e d of t r a f f i c k i n g i n p s e u d o e p h e d r i n e .

4 When t r a n s l a t e d from A r a b i c , the word " j i h a d " means

" s t r u g g l e " and can be i n t e r p r e t e d i n d i f f e r e n t ways. E v i d e n c e

i n t h i s case, i n c l u d i n g s t a t e m e n t s t o the CS and w r i t t e n

communications, shows t h a t KABIR, SANTANA, and DELEON c l o s e l yf o l l o w e d and s t u d i e d the t e a c h i n g s of 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 to Support 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 act f o r M u s l i m s and t h at " v i c t o r y

w i l l no t be t h r o u g h e l e c t i o n s or p e a c e f u l dawah, but t h r o u g h

f i g h t i n g i n the p a t h of A l l a h . " The e v i d e n c e shows t h a t KABIR,

SANTANA, DELEON, and GOJALI used the word " j i h a d " to r e f e r t o

f i g h t i n g as i n armed combat.

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SANTANA r e c r u i t e d GOJALI t o j o i n them. GOJALI a g r e e d t o j o i n

t h e i r p l a n t o t r a v e l o v e r s e a s t o commit v i o l e n t j i h a d .

8. E v i d e n c e d e s c r i b e d below f u r t h e r shows t h a t DELEON,

SANTANA, and GOJALI have tak en, and co nt in ue to ta ke , ste ps to

p r e p a r e f o r t r a v e l from t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s t o r e u n i t e w i t h KABIR

i n A f g h a n i s t a n a n d j o i n t h e T a l i b a n a nd A l - Q a ' i d a by c o n d u c t i n g

t r a i n i n g , 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 f i r e a r m s p r a c t i c e , and

a r r a n g i n g t r a v e l l o g i s t i c s , i n c l u d i n g f l i g h t s , p a s s p o r t s , a n d

v i s a s .

THE DEFENDANTS

S o h i e l Omar KABIR

9. R e c o r d s from t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s Department o f Homeland

S e c u r i t y ("DHS") and the State of C a l i f o r n i a show t h a t KABIR i s

a 34 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 was a

r e s i d e n t o f Pomona, C a l i f o r n i a . He was b o r n i n A f g h a n i s t a n .

Department o f Defense r e c o r d s show t h a t KABIR s e r v e d i n t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s A i r F o r c e from 2000 to 2001. As di s cu ss ed below,

the FBI has le a rn e d th a t KABIR d e p a r t e d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s f o r

Germany i n December 2011 and en te re d Af gh an is ta n i n J u l y 2012.

R a l p h Kenneth DELEON

10. R e c o r d s from DHS and th e S t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a show t h a t

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 who

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r e s i d e s i n O n t a r i o , C a l i f o r n i a . DELEON was b o r n i n the

P h i l i p p i n e s .

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

11. Records from DHS and the S t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a show t h a t

SANTANA i s a 21 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 who

r e s i d e s i n U p l a n d , C a l i f o r n i a . SANTANA was b o r n i n M e x i c o and

i s p e n d i n g c i t i z e n s h i p i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s .

A r i f e e n D a v i d GOJALI

12 . Records from the S t a t e of C a l i f o r n i a show t h a t GOJALI

i s 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 by b i r t h and a r e s i d e n t

o f R i v e r s i d e , C a l i f o r n i a .

RELEVANT GROUPS

AL-QA'IDA

1 3 . A c c o r d i n g t o the N a t i o n a l C o u n t e r t e r r o r i s m C e n te r ' s

p u b l i c l y a v a i l a b l e w e b s i t e , A l - Q a ' i d a 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 by Usama bi n L a d i n i n 1988 w i t h A r a b s who

f o u g h t i n A f g h a n i s t a n a g a i n s t the S o v i e t Union, A l - Q a ' i d a ' s

d e c l a r e d g o a l i s the e s t a b l i s h m e n t of a p a n - I s l a m i c

c a l i p h a t e t h r o u g h o u t the M u s l i m w o r l d . Toward t h i s end,

A l - Q a ' i d a seeks t o u n i t e M u s l i m s t o f i g h t the West,

e s p e c i a l l y the 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 regimes 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 Muslim c o u n t r i e s , and d e f e a t i n g

I s r a e l . 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 the banner of "t he World I s l a m i c F r o n t f o r J i h a d

A g a i n s t the Jews and C r u s a d e r s " s a y i n g i t was the d u t y of

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 and m i l i t a r y -

and t h e i r a l l i e s everywhere. . . . A l - Q a ' i d a remains

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committed t o c o n d u c t i n g a t t a c k s i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s and

a g a i n s t A m e r i c a n i n t e r e s t s abroad.

http://www.nctc.gov/'site/groups/al_qaida .html.

14. I n 1999, and c o n t i n u i n g to the p r e s e n t d a t e , the

S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e d e s i g n a t e d the t e r r o r i s t group A l - Q a ' i d a as 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 of the

I m m i g r a t i o n and N a t i o n a l i t y A c t .

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 d e s c r i b e d ,

i n p a r t , by the N a t i o n a l C o u n t e r t e r r o r i s m C e n t e r as:

. . . a Sunni 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

founded i n the e a r l y 1990s t h a t r u l e d most of A f g h a n i s t a n

f r o m 1996 u n t i l October of 200 1. The movement's n u c l e u s -

t h e word " 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 farmers 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

a n d P a k i s t a n madrasas, or r e l i g i o u s s c h o o l s . [In]

September 1996, the T a l i b a n had c a p t u r e d K a b u l , k i l l e d the

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 the I s l a m i c E m i r a t e ofA f g h a n i s t a n . In the y e a r s l e a d i n g up to the 11 Septe mber

2001 a t t a c k i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s , the T a l i b a n p r o v i d e d a

s a f e h a v e n f o r A l - Q a ' i d a . 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 October 2001, when t h e y were r o u t e d from power by the

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 FACTS

16. As of October 2011, SANTANA had p o s t e d v i o l e n t

e x t r e m i s t media on a s o c i a l media s i t e , i n c l u d i n g a ud io f i l e s of

9
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o f f i c e r s t h a t he c o n v e r t e d t o I s l a m i n August 2010 and t h a t

w h i l e 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 , t h r o u g h the

I n t e r n e t , a copy of " I n s p i r e " 6 magazine to r e a d .

18. D u r i n g the i n v e s t i g a t i o n , the F B I , a c t i n g i n a c o v e r t

c a p a c i t y , engaged SANTANA i n d i a l o g u e o n - l i n e t o d e t e r m i n e h i s

p o t e n t i a l t h r e a t t o the U n i t e d S t a t e s . In e l e c t r o n i c

c o m m u n i c a t i o n s w i t h th e FBI o n - l i n e , SANTANA d e t a i l e d h i s

a c c e p t a n c e of I s l a m , h i s support of j i h a d , and h i s d e s i r e t o

j o i n A l - Q a ' i d a .

19. During an o n - l i n e c o n v e r s a t i o n on February 15, 2012,

SANTANA i n f o r m e d an 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 " (an

A r a b i c p h r a s e meaning " f o r the sake of God"). D u r i n g the

c o n v e r s a t i o n , the f o l l o w i n g exchange o c c u r r e d :

OCE: t o be c l e a r a k h i . . . what do u mean when u

use the word f i s a b i l l a h

SANTANA: they t e l l me t h a t they l i v e i n a m e r i k a so

they 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

OCE: 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 something

else..some b e l i e v i e i t means p e r f o r m i n g act

such as c h a r i t y or J i h a d

SANTANA: oh r e a l l y ? d i d n' t no t h a t

OCE: so what do you b e l i e v e ?

SANTANA: b e l i e v e what?

OCE: are u t a l k i n g about c h a r i t y or j i h a d when u

use f i s a b i l l a h

6 SANTANA was found t o have a copy of i s s u e number 7 of

' I n s p i r e " magazine, p u b l i s h e d i n the F a l l of 2011.

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SANTANA: j i h a d f i s a b i l l a h t o e s t a b l i s h tawheed

[ A r a b i c word r e f e r r i n g t o the I s l a m i c b e l i e f

i n the oneness of God] over the M u s l i m l a n d s

and t o s t o p the o p p r e s s o r s .

Based on SANTANA's s t a t e m e n t s t o the OCE and l a t e r to th e CS,

SANTANA appeared t o use th e t e r m f i s a b i l i l l a h and " j i h a d

f i s a b i l i l l a h " 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.

2 0 . L a t e r i n the same F e b r u a r y 15, 2012, o n - l i n e

c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h an OCE, SANTANA d e s c r i b e d how an A f g h a n

" b r o t h e r " ( l a t e r i d e n t i f i e d as KABIR) i n t r o d u c e d him to j i h a d i

v i d e o s and j i h a d i media, i n c l u d i n g " I n s p i r e " magazine, "the

u n j u s t m e d i a , " and " k a v k a z c e n t e r . " When a s k e d by the OCE i f he

was s t i l l i n c o n t a c t w i t h the "Afghan" (KABIR), SANTANA s a i d he

was, that "he (KABIR) knows my i n t e n t i o n s , " and t h a t "we p l a n n e d

t h i s out when I became a M u s l i m . " SANTANA c l a i m e d t o the OCE

t h a t he went t o M e x i c o t o " t r a i n " and t h a t he " l e a r n e d how to

u se f i x and shoot a l o t of d i f f e r e n t k i n d a of guns and I was

p r a c t i c i n g w i t h e x p l o s i v e s l e a r n i n g how t o use and make them."

L a t e r i n the c o n v e r s a t i o n , SANTANA t o l d the OCE t h a t he was

" t h i n k i n g of l e a r n i n g how t o be a s n i p e r . "

21. In a F e b r u a r y 17, 2012, communication, an OCE asked

SANTANA w h i c h b a t t l e f i e l d he wanted t o j o i n ; SANTANA r e p l i e d

" k o r a s a n , " t h e n added "yemen." The OCE a s k e d SANTANA what h i s

i n t e r e s t was i n " k o r a s a n " or "yemen" t o w h i c h SANTANA r e p l i e d

" h e l p the b r o t h e r s pave the way t o J e r u s a l e m . " (Based on my

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t r a i n i n g and experi ence and inf or ma ti on pr ov id ed by oth er FBI

s p e c i a l agents: (1) SANTANA's use of the word "k or as an " was a

r e f e r e n c e t o Khorasan, a t r a d i t i o n a l Is la mi c ref ere nce to an

area i n Ce nt ra l As ia and Afg han ist an, h e r e meaning A f g h a n i s t a n ;

and (2) SANTANA's statement "hel p the br ot he rs pave th e way t o

J e r u s a l e m " appeared s i m i l a r to the te ac hi ng s of A l- Aw l aq i and t o

a fatwa i ss ue d by Al -Qa 'i da d i r e c t i n g f o l l o w e r s t o r e t a k e

c o n t r o l of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which i s l o c a t e d i n J e r u s a l e m . ) 7

22. In an o n - l i n e c o n ve r sa t io n on Feb rua ry 29, 2012,

SANTANA t o l d an OCE about a " f i l i p i n o b r o t h e r " ( l a t e r i d e n t i f i e d

as DELEON) and s ta te d th at the re were others who want t o make

" j i h a d f i s a b i l l a h . " The OCE t o l d SANTANA the re i s a t r a i n i n g

camp i n J a l a l a b a d , A f g h a n i s t a n , f o r SANTANA to attend i f tha t i s

h i s i n t e n t i o n . SANTANA responded "Mashallah were i s t h i s a k h i ? "

On February 23, 1998, Usama B i n Laden and his then

d e p u t y , Ayman Al -Z aw ah ir i (now the le ad er of Al- Qa' ida f o l l o w i n g

B i n Laden's death), is su ed a fatwa de cl a ri ng , i n pa rt , th at

[ t ]h e r u l i n g t o k i l l the 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 duty for every

M u s l i m who can do i t i n any cou nt ry 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 or de r to l i b e r a t e the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the

h o l y mosque [Mecca] from t h e i r g r i p , and i n ord er fo r t h e i r

armies to move out of a l l the l an ds of Is la m[ .] . . . We -

w i t h God's help - c a l l on every M u s l i m who b e l i e v e s i n Godand w i s h e s to be rewarded to comply w i t h God's order to

k i l l the A m e r i c a n s and plunder t h e i r money wherever and

whenever they f i n d i t .

See http: //www.pbs. orgy'newshoury'updates / m i l i t a r y y j an-

june98Zfatwa_1998.html.

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and t o l d the OCE he has wanted t o j o i n the b a t t l e f i e l d s i n c e he

" t o o k shahada" ( r e f e r r i n g to the time when he d e c l a r e d h i s f a i t h

i n I s l a m ) .

23. During the i n v e s t i g a t i o n , the CS met SANTANA, DELEON,

and GOJALI on numerous o c c a s i o n s . Over the c o u r s e of s e v e r a l

months, DELEON and SANTANA i n f o r m e d the CS o f t h e i r p l a n s w i t h

KABIR. A l t h o u g 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 and

SANTANA, DELEON r e c r u i t e d GOJALI t o j o i n the c o n s p i r a c y i n

September 2012.

24. On March 2, 2012, the CS o b s e r v e d SANTANA w i t h a

F i l i p i n o male, l a t e r i d e n t i f i e d as DELEON. The CS spoke w i t h

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 . DELEON t o l d the CS t h e r e

were a c o u p l e of " b r o t h e r s " from the mosque who want t o go f o r

" f i s a b i l i l l a h . " The CS asked DELEON which k i n d of f i s a b i l i l l a h

and DELEON r e p l i e d " j i h a d . " DELEON s a i d t h a t the two men who

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 so o p e n l y and

had drawn the a t t e n t i o n of th e " f e d s . " When the CS a s k e d

whether SANTANA was one o f the men d i s c u s s i n g j i h a d

f i s a b i l i l l a h , DELEON s a i d " y e s , M i g u e l . "

25. During an o n - l i n e c o n v e r s a t i o n on March 9, 2012,

SANTANA a g a i n t o l d an OCE t h a t he wanted t o become a s n i p e r and

t h a t he "always had a b i g p a s s i o n f o r t h i s . " The OCE t o l d

SANTANA t h a t the OCE's " e m i r " ( A r a b i c f o r l e a d e r ) i s A l - Q a ' i d a .

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SANTANA asked "how do I make p l e d g e t o t h i s E m i r ? " The OCE

e x p l a i n e d how t o do so and SANTANA f o l l o w e d s u i t by t y p i n g

v e r b a t i m the f o l l o w i n g p l e d g e p r o v i d e d by t h e OCE:

0 ou r beloved Emir, on b e h a l f of my b r o t h e r s i n al-Qaeda,

commanders, and 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 and t h e Sunnah of Hi s

Messenger, t o l i s t e n and obey i n good and bad, t o have

a l t r u i s m and no t d i s p u t e w i t h p e o p l e i n t h e i r f i e l d s except

when we see c l e a r u n b e l i e f t h a t i s prove i n the r e v e l a t i o n

from A l l a h as much as we can.

When t h e OCE asked SANTANA how he f e l t , SANTANA r e p l i e d " I t

f e e l s l i k e I t o o k shahada a l l o ve r a g a i n . "

DEFENDANTS' SOCIAL MEDIA

26. I have r e v i e w e d s e v e r a l of th e s o c i a l media web s i t e s

f o r KABIR, SANTANA, DELEON, each o f whom has p o s t e d r a d i c a l pro-

j i h a d c o n t e n t on t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e pages. A d d i t i o n a l l y , p o r t i o n s

of t h e s o c i a l media show t h a t DELEON and SANTANA " l i k e d " 8

p o s t i n g s on KABIR's Facebook page as e a r l y as May 2011.

27. P u b l i c items posted by KABIR t o h i s s o c i a l media

a c c o u n t s i n c l u d e photographs o f h i m s e l f , n o n - e x t r e m i s t c o n t e n t ,

r a d i c a l 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 content w i t h o t h e r Facebook u s e r s . For example, i f User Ac l i c k s t h e " l i k e " b u t t o n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h s p e c i f i c content posted

on User B's Facebook page, a l i n k i s p o s t e d on User A's Facebook

page i n d i c a t i n g User A " l i k e d " User B's content; User B's

content i s a n n o t a t e d t o note t h e " l i k e . " S i m i l a r l y , Facebook's

" s h a r e " f e a t u r e a l l o w s u s e r s t o share content i n a v a r i e t y of

ways, i n c l u d i n g t o t h e i r own page, t o another person's o r

group's page, or i n a p r i v a t e message.

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m a i n s t r e a m media, abuses by the government, c o n s p i r a c y t h e o r i e s ,

abuses by law enforcement, and the war i n Af gh an is ta n. KABIR's

r a d i c a l po sti ng s in cl ud e video s and l i n k s to vid eos of Al-Qa 'id a

l e a d e r Anwar Al -A wl aq i and h is l e c t u r e s , j i h a d - b a s e d v i d e o s

r e g a r d i n g Afg han is tan and elsewhere, videos d ep ic t in g mujahideen

f i g h t e r s i n Afg han ist an and elsewhere, videos de pi c ti ng

t e r r o r i s t t r a i n i n g camps and r e l a t e d a c t i v i t i e s , v i d e o s

d e p i c t i n g i m p r o v i s e d e x p l o s i v e d e v i c e ("IED") attacks, and

a r t i c l e s re ga rd in g the death of A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r s i n

A f g h a n i s t a n . F o r example, on J u l y 6, 2012, KABIR shared a video

t o h i s p u b l i c Facebook page e n t i t l e d "Knights of Khorasan

I s l a m i c Emirate Martyrdom Operation Against an Army Base i n

Margha." This video, which I have reviewed, de pi ct s a s u i c i d e

bombing o p e r a t i o n a g a i n s t a l a r g e base wherein the s u i c i d e -

bomber d r i v e s an e x p l o s i v e s - l a d e n t r u c k i n t o a base and

detonates i t . The vid eo be ar s the symbol of As-Sahab, A l -

Qa' i d a ' s .media wing, i n the low er r i g h t c o r n e r .

28. KABIR has "shared " se ve ra l pos tin gs wit h SANTANA

and/or DELEON, both of whom have " l i k e d " or commented on several

other postings by KABIR, i n c l u d i n g the f o l l o w i n g :

a. On December 7, 2011, KABIR posted a video

e n t i t l e d "Black Flags of Khorasan: Part 2" that he l a t e r

"shared" with DELEON. (Bas ed on my t r a i n i n g and experience,

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KABIR was then 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 had 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 January 19, 2012, DELEON " l i k e d " a shared l i n k

p o s t e d on KABIR's page of a v i d e o e n t i t l e d "Dua of Sheikh

Muhammad a l Mohaisany m a s j i d a l haram makkah." The video, which

I have reviewed as p o s t e d on KABIR's page, appears t o be a

p r a y e r f o r the success of th e m u j a h i d e e n and f e a t u r e s v a r i o u s

photos i n c l u d i n g A l - Q a ' i d a l e a d e r s Usama B i n Laden and Ayman a l

Z a w a h i r i , 9/11 a t t a c k s , b l o o d i e d a d u l t s and c h i l d r e n , and

I s l a m i c f i g h t e r s . The v i d e o a l s o c a l l s f o r the l i b e r a t i o n of

A l - A q s a , the mosque r e f e r e n c e d i n the 1998 Al-Qa'ida fatwa

d e s c r i b e d above.

e. On February 13, 2012, SANTANA " l i k e d " two shared

v i d e o l i n k s on KABIR's page, i n c l u d i n g one f o r a v i d e o e n t i t l e d

"Imam Anwar a l A w l a k i - A S t o r y of Courage."

f. On May 28, 2012, KABIR p o s t e d two s t o r i e s

r e g a r d i n g the death of A l - Q a ' i d a l e a d e r Usama B i n Laden. DELEON

" l i k e d " both s t o r i e s ; SANTANA " l i k e d " one.

g. On June 16, 2012, SANTANA " l i k e d " a v i d e o ,

produced by A l - Q a ' i d a ' s media wing, As-Sahab, shared by KABIR to

h i s Facebook page e n t i t l e d "Ghuraba." This video, which I have

reviewed, appears t o d e p i c t l i f e as a m u j a h i d e e n f i g h t e r and

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i n c l u d e s s e v e r a l i n t e r v i e w s . The video al so fea tur es mujahideen

f i g h t e r s f i r i n g a r t i l l e r y .

h. On J u l y 5, 2012, KABIR posted a photo f e a t u r i n g

A l - Q a ' i d a l e a d e r Anwar A l - A w l a q i which c o n t a i n e d a quote from

A l - A w l a q i . DELEON " l i k e d " and "shared" t h e photo.

i . On September 16, 2012, DELEON " l i k e d " KABIR's

shared l i n k t o a v i d e o e n t i t l e d "The T r u t h Has Come and

Falsehood has p e r i s h e d P a r t 1 U r d u . " This video, which I have

reviewed, i s a p r o d u c t i o n by As-Sahab and begins with footage of

A l - A w l a q i and d i s c u s s e s th e war i n A f g h a n i s t a n . The video also

f e a t u r e s c u r r e n t A l - Q a ' i d a l e a d e r Ayman A l - Z a w a h i r i .

29. On September 17, 2012, SANTANA " l i k e d " KABIR's post of

an a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d "A P u b l i c T a l k by Ustadz Abu M J i b r i e l AR:

The Truth Of The 9/11 J i h a d O p e r a t i o n , The P l o t s Of The Enemies

And The Z i o n i s t C o n s p i r a c y . "

DEFENDANTS' STATEMENTS TO THE CS

30. On May 25, 2012, t h e CS t r a v e l e d w i t h SANTANA, DELEON,

GOJALI, and o t h e r s t o Las Vegas, Nevada, t o a t t e n d a conference.

During t h e t r i p , 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 w i t h

the defendants. A t the b e g i n n i n g of th e t r i p , SANTANA t o l d the

CS t h a t he and DELEON were c o n v e r t e d t o Islam by the same

A f g h a n i man (as d i s c u s s e d below, SANTANA and DELEON l a t e r

i d e n t i f i e d t h i s man as KABIR). W h i l e d i s c u s s i n glaw

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enforcement, DELEON t o l d SANTANA, GOJALI, and t he CS " I ' d c u t

a l l t h e i r t h r o a t s i f I ever had th e chance." During t h e t r i p ,

the men l i s t e n e d t o r e c o r d i n g s of l e c t u r e s by A l - Q a ' i d a

spokesperson Anwar A l - A w l a q i p r o v i d e d by DELEON.

31. On May 26, 2012, DELEON and t h e CS d i s c u s s e d j i h a d and

f i g h t i n g . DELEON s a i d " [ i ] f I had th e chance, r e a l l y [I] would

j u s t go." DELEON added t h a t he would "welcome t h a t chance, even

i f i t ' s h er e, anywhere . . ." (appearing t o r e f e r t o a

w i l l i n g n e s s t o engage i n v i o l e n t j i h a d overseas or i n the U n i t e d

S t a t e s ) .

a. La te r th at eveni ng, DELEON d i s c u s s e d a p l a n

between KABIR, SANTANA, and DELEON t o t r a v e l f o r j i h a d :

DELEON

THE CS

DELEON

THE CS

DELEON

THE CS

As we were j u s t . . .

So i t was you and Miguel?

Yeah. We were going t o go.

Wow.

And then . . . 'cause my whole f a m i l y

i s U.S. c i t i z e n s except 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")] the window a

l i t t l e b i t . And then, I was going t o

go, b u t , my, I , I d i d n ' t have a v i s a

y e t . I had t o go t o th e P h i l i p p i n e

Embassy, and then t h i s and t h a t . And

then, b a s i c a l l y , th e b r o t h e r had

a l r e a d y s o l d h i s c a r . I was going 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

A f g h a n i s t a n ?

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a l r e a d y s e t . We're g o i n g t o buy a

round t r i p . . .

b . L a t e r i n the c o n v e r s a t i o n , DELEON and th e CS

d i s c u s s e d t he f o l l o w i n g :

THE CS

DELEON

THE CS

DELEON

THE CS

DELEON:

THE CS:

DELEON:

So Miguel went t o M e x i c o , t o . . .

To p r a c t i c e

To p r a c t i c e .

Yeah.

Wow. Do t h e y have l i k e a camp i n

t h e r e , or something?

He had a, uh, he knew, he had f a m i l ywho had, you know, weapons.

Ok, ok. Yeah, he t o l d me, because he

i s from t h e . . .

He p r a c t i c e d .

c . L a t e r i n the c o n v e r s a t i o n , DELEON s a i d :

. . . But l i k e t e l l i n g you a l l the d e t a i l s , I r e a l l y

haven't t o l d anyone. But, yeah from . . . from Mexico

he came back. And 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., you know, my c i t i z e n s h i p .

(Based on my t r a i n i n g and e x p e r i e n c e , t he c o n t e x t of th e

c o n v e r s a t i o n , and s t a t e m e n t s by DELEON d e s c r i b e d below, DELEON's

s t a t e m e n t t h a t KABIR " a l r e a d y gave up h i s l i f e " appears t o

r e f l e c t DELEON's b e l i e f t h a t KABIR had s t a r t e d on a p a t h toward

j i h a d . I f u r t h e r b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n i n d i c a t e s t h a t

SANTANA, KABIR an d DELEON p r e v i o u s l y formed a p l a n t o go t o

A f g h a n i s t a n and t o commit a c t s of v i o l e n t j i h a d . )

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32. During the May 2012 Las Vegas t r i p , SANTANA t o l d the

CS t h a t A l - A w l a q i i s h i s " s h i e k h , t h i s i s how I came to I s l a m ,

by l i s t e n i n g to him. "

3 3 . A f t e r th e Las Vegas t r i p , DELEON gave the CS a thumb

d r i v e c o n t a i n i n g a d i g i t a l copy of A l - A w l aq i m a t e r i a l s . The CS

p r o v i d e d the thumb d r i v e t o th e FBI w i t h o u t a c c e s s i n g i t . The

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 f i l e s of l e s s o n s and

l e c t u r e s by A l - A w l a q i and a copy of th e a f o r e m e n t i o n e d M44 Ways

t o S u p p o r t J i h a d . "

34. On June 15, 2012, DELEON and th e CS went t o a s t o r e .

W h i l e en r o u t e , DELEON t o l d the CS t h a t he met KABIR at a hookah

b a r and 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 KABIR. DELEON t o l d the

CS t h a t KABIR was c u r r e n t l y i n Germany and t h a t he was not

coming back. DELEON t o l d the CS t h a t SANTANA a l s o met KABIR at

t h e hookah l o u n g e .

35 . On June 16, 2012, DELEON, SANTANA, and the CS,

t r a v e l e d t o San Diego, C a l i f o r n i a , f o r a c o n f e r e n c e and r e t u r n e d

on June 17, 2012. D u r i n g the d r i v e to and from San Diego,

SANTANA and DELEON p l a y e d l e c t u r e s by A l - A w l a q i o v e r the

v e h i c l e ' s s p e a k e r system.

a. On June 16, 2 012, SANTANA, DELEON, and the CS had

t he f o l l o w i n g d i s c u s s i o n , which the CS r e c o r d e d :

SANTANA: T h i s i s how I see i t . The o n l y way

we're g o i n g t o be v i c t o r i o u s . . .

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DELEON: Sword.

SANTANA: i s by f i s a b i l l a h [ p h ] . Yeah.

DELEON: The p r o p h e t , peace be upon him

SANTANA: The only way! O n l y way! I mean yeah,

i t ' s good to g i v e dawa [ A r a b i c f o r

p r e a c h i n g ] , but i t ' s b e t t e r t o do

f i s a b i l l a h [ph].

b. W h i l e en r o u t e t o San Diego, DELEON, SANTANA and

t h e CS d i s c u s s e d A l - A w l a q i and m a r t y r s f o r I s l a m . DELEON and

SANTANA t o l d the CS t he A l - A w l a q i l e c t u r e s were " p r o h i b i t e d . "

DELEON t o l d SANTANA he had a l r e a d y g i v e n a copy of th e l e c t u r e s

t o the CS. SANTANA r e p o r t e d t h a t he a l s o had A l - A w l a q i ' s

" u n d e r g r o u n d " l e c t u r e s .

t r a i n i n g . D u r i n g the c o n v e r s a t i o n , SANTANA t o l d the CS t h a t he

wanted t o become a s n i p e r . SANTANA e x p l a i n e d t h a t he had s h o t

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 AK-47s. SANTANA, DELEON,

and the CS t h e n d i s c u s s e d p l a n s t o p r a c t i c e s h o ot i n g weapons and

whether t o do so i n Mexico or th e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

had p r e v i o u s l y d e c i d e d t o use th e word "umrah" t o r e f e r to

v i o l e n t j i h a d . DELEON and SANTANA then d i s c u s s e d w i t h the CS a

p l a n t o wear r e g u l a r c l o t h i n g l i k e t o u r i s t s when t h ey t r a v e l e d

i n o r d e r t o a v o i d d e t e c t i o n . The t h r e e d i s c u s s e d where j i h a d

was being waged and where t h e y s h o u l d go f o r j i h a d .

c. SANTANA, DELEON, and the CS spoke about f i r e a r m s

d. DELEON and the CS e x p l a i n e d t o SANTANA t h a t t h e y

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36. On June 22, 2 012, SANTANA, DELEON, and the CS

d i s c u s s e d g o i n g t o the range to p r a c t i c e w i t h f i r e a r m s . SANTANA

t o l d the CS t h a t he had a f r i e n d who worked at a gun range where

t h e y d i d not ask fo r anyone's i d e n t i t y .

37. In J u l y 2012, SANTANA, DELEON, the CS, and a n o t h e r man

t r a v e l e d by c a r t o I l l i n o i s t o v i s i t w i t h DELEON's f a m i l y .

D u r i n g the t r i p , which o c c u r r e d between J u l y 2 and J u l y 8, 2012,

t h e CS r e c o r d e d s e v e r a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s . SANTANA t o l d the CS t h a t

he had spoken w i t h KABIR about o b t a i n i n g money t o l e a v e the

U n i t e d S t a t e s . SANTANA r e l a y e d t h a t KABIR had t o l d SANTANA t o

c o n t a c t an i n d i v i d u a l known t o both KABIR and SANTANA, who c o u l d

h e l p SANTANA o b t a i n the money.

38. The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t , d u r i n g the t r i p t o C h i c a g o ,

DELEON s a i d t h a t he o b t a i n e d an updated i s s u e of A l - Q a ' i d a ' s

" I n s p i r e " magazine and o f f e r e d t o l o a d i t onto the CS's thumb

d r i v e . The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t DELEON and SANTANA both brought

a u d i o - r e c o r d i n g s of l e c t u r e s by A l - A w l a q i t h a t the two p l a y e d

over the v e h i c l e ' s s p e a k e r system. The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t the

l e c t u r e s c o n t a i n e d e x t r e m i s t c o n t e n t .

39. During the C h i c a g o t r i p , SANTANA t o l d the CS about h i s

c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h an OCE. SANTANA e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e r e are

"boot camps" i n A f g h a n i s t a n . When the CS a s k e d SANTANA which

group was a s s o c i a t e d w i t h the camp, SANTANA s t a t e d t h a t i t was

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a n y t h i n g , j o i n t h e o t h e r s i d e , because t h a t ' s t h e s i d e where

t h e y ' r e a c t u a l l y f i g h t i n g f o r something . . . a w o r t h [ s i c ]

c a u s e . " SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he then t o l d KABIR " I want t o

go f i g h t , man" and " L e t ' s do i t . " SANTANA e x p l a i n e d t h a t KABIR

t h e n t o l d him " I want t o go t o o . . . . What we c o u l d do i s go

t o A-F-G, you know. Save some money, go ge t s e t t l e d , ya know,

meet t h e l o c a l s , see who's f i g h t , see who's d o i n g t he r i g h t

cause . . . j o i n them, from t h e r e , j u s t c o n t i n u e . " SANTANA t o l d

t h e CS " [ s ] o t h a t ' s t h e r e a l i t y . I came t o I s l a m from

f i s a b i l l a l a h . "

SANTANARENEWS HIS PASSPORT

41. On J u l y 11, 2012, t h e CS drove SANTANA t o th e Mexican

C o n s u l a t e i n San B e r n a r d i n o , C a l i f o r n i a , t o update SANTANA's

p a s s p o r t . W h i l e en r o u t e , SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he spoke

w i t h KABIR u s i n g Skype 9 on o r about J u l y 9, 2012. A c c o r d i n g t o

SANTANA, he and KABIR d i s c u s s e d how he (SANTANA), DELEON, and

t h e CS a l l d e s i r e d t o t r a v e l ( f o r v i o l e n t j i h a d ) . The CS asked

SANTANA i f he was s t i l l i n t e n t on c o m m i t t i n g f i s a b i l i l l a h . The

CS o f f e r e d t o h e l p SANTANA ge t a j o b and e s t a b l i s h h i m s e l f i n

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s r a t h e r t h a n t r a v e l i n g o v e r s e a s . SANTANA s a i d

Skype i s a web-based communication system whereby

i n d i v i d u a l s can use th e I n t e r n e t t o make and r e c e i v e a u d i o and

v i d e o c a l l s .

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he would not change h i s mind. SANTANA t o l d the CS h i s heavenly

rewards would outweigh any e a r t h l y rewards.

42. Later on J u l y 11, 2012, SANTANA and t he CS p i c k e d up

DELEON and drove t o Orange County. While on t h e d r i v e , th e CS

asked DELEON i f g e t t i n g married, having k i d s , or g e t t i n g h i s

degree would d i s s u a d e him (DELEON) from committing j i h a d .

DELEON s a i d no and t h a t he had f i s a b i l i l l a h i n mind ever since

c o n v e r t i n g t o Islam. SANTANA a l s o t o l d t h e CS he planned t o

t a l k w i t h a c o n n e c t i o n he had at a l o c a l gun range t o ge t t he

t h r e e o f them t o p r a c t i c e s h o o t i n g . DELEON t o l d the CS t h a t ,

when he goes ( r e f e r r i n g t o t r a v e l i n g o v e r s e a s ) , he wants t o be

on the f r o n t l i n e s .

43. On J u l y 12, 2012, DELEON, SANTANA, and the CS went t o

the Mexican C ons ulat e i n San B e r n a r d i n o t o complete SANTANA's

Mexican pas spo rt renewal. During t h i s t r i p , DELEON and SANTANA

t o l d t h e CS that they needed t o l e a v e the U n i t e d S t a t e s by no

l a t e r than December 20, 2012. DELEON c o n f i r m e d t o th e CS t h a t ,

when t h e y go ( f o r j i h a d f i s a b i l i l l a h ) , they w i l l e i t h e r go t o

A l - Q a ' i d a or t o P a l e s t i n e .

DELEON AND SANTANADISCUSS JOINING TERRORIST GROUPS

44. On J u l y 16, 2012, the CS met w i t h DELEON i n O n t a r i o ,

C a l i f o r n i a . The CS asked DELEON which group they would j o i n i f

they went t o A f g h a n i s t a n . DELEON s a i d "AQ" o r th e T a l i b a n .

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DELEON s a i d he had been doing research on the T a l i b a n and

thought the T a l i b a n was f i g h t i n g f o r the r i g h t cause. DELEON

went on t o di sc us s other areas where t h e r e were l e g i t i m a t e

j i h a d s . DELEON s a i d t h a t i f the CS was not a b l e t o p r o v i d e

money t o fund the t r i p , DELEON c o u l d s e l l h i s c a r . DELEON s a i d

he had been r u n n i n g t o get i n t o shape f o r the t r i p .

45. On J u l y 18, 2 012, SANTANA, DELEON, and the CS met at

DELEON's home. The t h r e e d i s c u s s e d where they should go and

whom they should j o i n . SANTANA st at ed they should go t o

A f g h a n i s t a n because t h a t r e g i o n i s more a c t i v e . When asked what

group they should j o i n , SANTANA s a i d "AQ." DELEON b e l i e v e d the

T a l i b a n was a p o s s i b i l i t y as w e l l , but "maybe AQ would be

b e t t e r . " They a l s o d i s c u s s e d s e v e r a l p l a c e s worthy of f i g h t i n g ,

i n c l u d i n g : (1) A f g h a n i s t a n t o f i g h t a g a i n s t A m e r i c a n s , the

B r i t i s h , and U n i t e d N a t i o n s and I s r a e l i s ; (2) the P h i l i p p i n e s to

j o i n Abu S a y y a f1 0

and f i g h t a g a i n s t a p o s t a t e F i l i p i n o s and th e

The S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e d e s i g n a t e d th e Abu Sayyaf Group

("ASG") as 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 th e most v i o l e n t of th e t e r r o r i s t groups o p e r a t i n gi n the southern P h i l i p p i n e s . . . [and] engages i n

kidnappings f o r ransom [ i n c l u d i n g kidnappings of

A m e r i c a n s ] , b e he a di n gs , 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 to promote an i n d e p e n d e n t I s l a m i c

s t a t e i n western Mindanao and th e Sulu Ar chi pe lag o, areas

i n the southern P h i l i p p i n e s h e a v i l y p o p u l at e d by Muslims.

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A m e r i c a n s ; and (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

A f g h a n i s t a n and t h a t he thought the m i l i t a r y b a s e s t h e r e c o u l d

e a s i l y be ambushed "from every d i r e c t i o n . " The CS a s k e d DELEON

and SANTANA i f t he y had thought about how i t w i l l f e e l to k i l l

someone. DELEON s a i d he had though t about i t and "wouldn't have

a p r o b l e m i f i t ' s , i t ' s f o r A l l a h . " SANTANA s a i d he would not

have a p r o b l e m w i t h i t and "The more I t h i n k about i t th e more

i t e x c i t e s me."

46. On J u l y 19, .2 012, the CS, SANTANA, and DELEON met.

The 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

t he m u j a h i d e e n i n the b a t t l e f i e l d . When the CS a s k e d DELEON

how he would respond i n t h a t s i t u a t i o n , DELEON s a i d , "Me . . . I

f e e l how M i g u e l f e e l s . I'm a l l , I ' l l s n i p e the guy o f f . . . .

I am so r e a d y . " DELEON went on t o say, "No way. The l e a s t I

can do i s blow h i s b r a i n s out and send him t o , to jahannam

[ h e l l ] . " DELEON added t h a t not o n l y the one who f i g h t s f o r

I s l a m w i l l be rewarded, but even the p e r s o n who l o a d s b u l l e t s

i n t o magazines w i l l be c o n s i d e r e d a shahada ( b e l i e v e d here to be

a r e f e r e n c e t o the A r a b i c ter m shaheed , use d her e t o mean

" m a r t y r " ) . The CS t o l d DELEON t h a t b e i n g m a r r i e d and p r o v i d i n g

f o r a f a m i l y i s a t y p e of j i h a d , t o w h i c h DELEON r e s p o n d e d by

U.S. Department of S t a t e Country Report on Terrorism 2010, pp.

200-01; http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/1 70479 .pdf.

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s a y i n g i t was n ot t h e t y p e o f j i h a d t h a t would ge t him i n t o

p a r a d i s e .

DEFENDANTS DISCUSS KABIR'S TRAVEL TO AFGHANISTAN

47. On J u l y 24, 2012, DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t KABIR had

l e f t f o r home, w h i c h DELEON l a t e r c l a r i f i e d meant A f g h a n i s t a n .

(As I s t a t e d i n p a r a g r a p h 5, above, KABIR i n f a c t t r a v e l e d t o

A f g h a n i s t a n on J u l y 24, 2012.)

48. On A u g u s t 1, 2012, t he CS met w i t h SANTANA, DELEON,

and a t h i r d man. DELEON t o l d t he CS t h a t an i n d i v i d u a l known t o

b o t h KABIR and DELEON a d v i s e d t h a t KABIR s a i d t h a t he (DELEON),

SANTANA, and t h e CS s h o u l d not come t o A f g h a n i s t a n u n t i l KABIR

f i n d s t h e r i g h t camp ( a p p e a r i n g t o r e f e r t o a t e r r o r i s t t r a i n i n g

camp) f o r them t o a t t e n d .

49. On A u g u s t 8, 2012, DELEON t o l d t he CS about a r e c e n t

Skype s e s s i o n he had w i t h SANTANA and KABIR. DELEON t o l d the CS

t h a t SANTANA had done most of th e t a l k i n g d u r i n g th e h o u r - l o n g

c a l l . DELEON e x p l a i n e d t h a t , d u r i n g t he Skype s e s s i o n , he

(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 or

an imam. DELEON s a i d KABIR t o l d him he was l i v i n g i n Kabul near

a mosque and s a i d t h a t t h e y c o u l d come t o A f g h a n i s t a n at any

time and t h a t t h e b r o t h e r s would t a k e c a r e o f e v e r y t h i n g . L a t e r

t h a t e v e n i n g , DELEON and t he CS d i s c u s s e d A l - A w l a q i ' s t e a c h i n g s .

DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t A l - A w l a q i ' s v i e w on s u i c i d e bombers was

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t h a t t h e y would reap heavenly rewards even though the p r a c t i c e

o f s u i c i d e i s f o r b i d d e n by I s l a m . DELEON t o l d the CS t h a t he

l e a r n e d from KABIR t h a t t h e r e were s c o r e s of men i n A f g h a n i s t a n

w a i t i n g f o r t h e i r chance t o d i e as s u i c i d e bombers.

5.0. On August 10, 2 012, SANTANA t o l d the CS t h a t the imam

who was p r e s e n t w i t h KABIR d u r i n g the r e c e n t Skype c a l l a s k e d

q u e s t i o n s of SANTANA and a s k e d him to r e c i t e a v e r s e from the

Quran. SANTANA t o l d the CS t h a t KABIR s a i d t h a t he p l a n n e d t o

s t a r t an orphanage i n K a b u l and s u g g e s t e d t h a t DELEON and

SANTANA c o u l d work t h e r e . SANTANA c o n f i r m e d t o th e CS t h a t

orphanage was a cover f o r t h e i r t r u e i n t e n t i o n s .

51. On August 13, 2012, SANTANA t o l d the CS t h a t KABIR

s t i l l p l a n n e d t o j o i n a group f o r j i h a d and t h a t the o p e n i n g of

t he orphanage, which SANTANA c o n f i r m e d l a t e r i n the c o n v e r s a t i o n

was 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 reap heavenly

r e w a r d s . When SANTANA m e n t i o n e d a r e p o r t t h a t the U n i t e d S t a t e s

government had p u r c h a s e d ammunition, the CS asked whether waging

j i h a d i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s w o u l d be p e r m i s s i b l e . DELEON

responded t h a t , i f the government e n t e r e d one's house, i t would

be p e r m i s s i b l e t o " s p r a y " them ( a p p e a r i n g t o r e f e r t o f i r i n g

a u t o m a t i c weapons) and t h a t A l - A w l a q i condoned c o m m i t t i n g j i h a d

i n the U n i t e d S t a t e s .

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52. On A u g u s t 15, 2012, d u r i n g a meeting between SANTANA,

DELEON, and th e CS, DELEON advised that there were no p l a n s f o r

them t o a c t u a l l y work i n the orphanage. DELEON s a i d t h a t KABIR

would work t h e r e w h i l e w a i t i n g f o r them t o a r r i v e . SANTANA

concurred with DELEON's s t a t e m e n t . DELEON s a i d he had been

t h i n k i n g about t h e i r t r i p and t h o u g h t i t w o u l d be a d v i s a b l e t o

s t a g g e r t h e i r departures overseas, l e a v i n g i n groups of two when

t h e y t r a v e l t h r o u g h M e x i c o en route t o A f g h a n i s t a n .

53. On August 21, 2012, DELEON a g a i n t o l d the CS t h e i r

p l a n s h o u l d be t o t r a v e l i n p a i r s .

54. During a m e e t i n g on Au gu st 2 9, 2012, SANTANA t o l d the

CS about a r e c e n t Skype s e s s i o n he had w i t h KABIR. SANTANA t o l d

the CS t h a t KABIR had s o l i d i f i e d h i s c o n n e c t i o n s t o th e group

they w o u l d j o i n and t h a t e v e r y t h i n g was r e a d y f o r SANTANA,

DELEON, and th e CS t o meet up i n Kabul. KABIR s a i d the l a s t

t h i n g he needed t o do was t o ge t h i s f a t h e r ' s p e r m i s s i o n or

f o r g i v e n e s s f o r e n g a g i n g i n f i s a b i l i l l a h . During the Skype

s e s s i o n , KABIR e n c o u r a g e d SANTANA t o come t o AFGHANISTAN as soon

as he c o u l d . SANTANA t o l d the CS t h a t he e x p l a i n e d t o KABIR

t h a t he was w a i t i n g f o r DELEON and t he CS. KABIR s a i d he would

t a l k t o an i n d i v i d u a l known t o b o t h KABIR and SANTANA and ask

him to h e l p SANTANA get t o A f g h a n i s t a n . SANTANA s a i d KABIR t o l d

him the c o n n e c t i o n t o the j i h a d i group was t he same man who was

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s i t t i n g next t o KABIR i n the p r e v i o u s Skype s e s s i o n (the above-

d e s c r i b e d " s h i e k h " or "imam"). A c c o r d i n g t o SANTANA, KABIR s a i d

t h a t i f he l e f t t o j o i n a group b e f o r e the men a r r i v e d t o

A f g h a n i s t a n , he (KABIR) would l e a v e them w i t h a c o n t a c t who

would a r r a n g e t o b r i n g them t o wherever he was.

55. On A u g u s t 2 9, 2012, the CS and SANTANA met w i t h

DELEON, who t o l d t he CS t h a t he (DELEON) had been g e t t i n g i n

shape i n p r e p a r a t i o n f o r t h e i r t r i p . SANTANA s a i d he had been

d o i n g the same. DELEON asked SANTANA what group KABIR p l a n n e d

on j o i n i n g . SANTANA r e p l i e d "AQ." The CS asked about the term

"AQ" which DELEON e x p l a i n e d meant A l - Q a ' i d a . SANTANA r e l a y e d t o

t h e CS and DELEON t h a t KABIR t o l d him t h a t the m u j a h i d e e n i n

A f g h a n i s t a n ar e c u r r e n t l y f i g h t i n g American, B r i t i s h , U.N., and

I s r a e l i t r o o p s . L a t e r i n t h e i r m e e t i n g , SANTANA t o l d DELEON

t h a t he s h o u l d be r u n n i n g w i t h w e i g h t on h i s back. SANTANA s a i d

he had seen v i d e o s of m u j a h i d e e n i n A f g h a n i s t a n c a r r y i n g heavy

l o a d s . SANTANA s a i d t h e y w i l l be c a r r y i n g "RPGs" ( r o c k e t

p r o p e l l e d g r e n a d e s ) , ammunition, and o t h e r gear.

DEFENDANTS DISCUSS TRAVELING TO AFGHANISTAN TO JOIN KABIR

56. On or about August 31, 2012, SANTANA met w i t h the CS

and s t a r t e d t h e Skype s e s s i o n w i t h KABIR, which was r e c o r d e d .

The men d i s c u s s e d KABIR's f i n a n c i a l s i t u a t i o n 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 e v e n i n g .

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57. A t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6:00 p.m., DELEON, SANTANA, and the

CS met a t DELEON's home and p a r t i c i p a t e d i n a Skype s e s s i o n w i t h

KABIR, w h i c h was r e c o r d e d . I have r e v i e w e d a u d i o and v i d e o

r e c o r d i n g s of th e Skype c a l l and, based on o t h e r photographs o f

KABIR, b e l i e v e t h a t the image d i s p l a y e d d u r i n g t he c a l l d e p i c t s

KABIR. DELEON c a l l e d a " s h u r a " ( A r a b i c f o r a m e e t i n g o r

c o n s u l t a t i o n ) , which i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h DELEON's p o s i t i o n as th e

group's agreed-upon emir w h i l e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . I n e a r l i e r

d i s c u s s i o n s , t h e group a g r e e d t h a t KABIR would be th e emir once

they j o i n e d him o v e r s e a s .

a. During t h e v i d e o c a l l , KABIR s a i d " E v e r y t h i n g

here i s good t o go i f you guys come out h e r e " ( r e f e r r i n g t o

A f g h a n i s t a n ) .

b. KABIR e x p l a i n e d t h a t he c o u l d l e a v e t o j o i n the

group whenever he wanted and t h a t he wanted t o "go do some ph y-

p h y s i c a l t r a i n i n g and t h e n by t h e time you guys come out here,

I ' l l come back [to meet them], and you guys can s t i l l r o l l

t h r o u g h . " DELEON s a i d t h a t was " p e r f e c t . " KABIR s a i d "So i f I

do p h y s i c a l t r a i n i n g and something happens i n t h e p r o c e s s , I ' l l

s t i l l have e v e r y t h i n g s e t up and i n l i n e f o r you guys i f you

come out h e r e . "

c. They a g a i n a p p e a l e d t o KABIR t o w a i t and he

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 , he needed t o do some p h y s i c a l

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t r a i n i n g . DELEON t o l d KABIR t h a t he t r u s t e d KABIR and t h o u g h t

i t b e s t t h a t KABIR t r y t o t r a i n , then t r y t o come back t o meet

them. DELEON t o l d KABIR t h a t i f KABIR c o u l d not come back,

KABIR s h o u l d send a b r o t h e r (t o meet them), t o which KABIR s a i d

he w o u l d t r y .

d. The men t h e n d i s c u s s e d t r a v e l p l a n s to reach

A f g h a n i s t a n . KABIR t o l d them t o take the c h e a p e s t way t o ge t to

Kabul. SANTANA and DELEON t o l d KABIR t h e y p l a n n e d to l e a v e

t h r o u g h M e x i c o . KABIR t o l d SANTANA and DELEON t o have a "game

p l a n . " KABIR s a i d "Yeah, you know what. I'm gonna go out here

and I'm gonna check i t out and see how i t i s and i f i t ' s not

worth i t , t h e n I say i t ' s b e t t e r i f we go to uh, uh, S a u d i "

(which DELEON p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d as a gateway t o Yemen).

e. L a t e r d u r i n g the c o n v e r s a t i o n , KABIR s a i d " i f

worse comes t o worse where you don't hear from me no more,

p e r i o d . You, you have [ i n d i v i d u a l s known t o KABIR, DELON, and

SANTANA]. Ok. They know where I am at and who I am w i t h . And

you know, know my l o c a t i o n and you come out here, then the r i g h t

p e r s o n w i l l come and meet you guys."

f. L a t e r i n the c o n v e r s a t i o n , SANTANA a s k e d KABIR

the f o l l o w i n g :

SANTANA: And urn, I wanted t o ask, the th e

b r o t h e r s t h a t you do know t h a t have

been t h e r e done t h a t , what group do

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DELEON:

they belong to? Do they belong to the

S t u d e n t s ? 1 1

SANTANA:

KABIR:

SANTANA:

DELEON:

DELEON:

THE CS:

KABIR:

DELEON:

THE CS:

KABIR:

DELEON:

KABIR:

SANTANA:

KABIR:

SANTANA:

. . . t o the "A," or t h e , the . ...

Students.

S t u d e n t s .

[ T a l k i n g over each other] Students.

Students. Students. I l i k e t h a t .

What's s t u d e n t s ?

[Unknown person whispers "Tali ban ."]

I t was the s t u d e n t s . The o t h e r ones

are up i n th e mountains.

Yeah, yeah, I get ya. [UI] I

understand.

Got i t . Got i t . The o t h e r one . . .

[UI]

The students are o ve r h er e a l l

throughout the c i t i e s man. They are

a l l over the map. But [UI] t h e r e are

fake students t o o , so though . . .

D e f i n i t e l y .

. . . s o l d i e r s .

Urn.

[UI] . . . they're over here too, so.

That's why you . . . I t ' s a, i t ' sa

t r i c k y game out here. But,

i n s h a ' A l l a h , e v e r y t h i n g ' s c o o l .

So from the s t u d e n t s do you advance to

t h e p r o f e s s o r s ? Or . . .

As noted above, the Pashto word 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 of th e A r a b i c word f o r

s t u d e n t , " t a l i b , " and th 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."

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KABIR:

SANTANA:

KABIR:

SANTANA:

KABIR:

THE CS:

Y a , t h a t ' s a l l , o f course yo u do.

Oh, okay.

That's t h e f i r s t t h i n g you 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 because I

came from 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 , ya

man, y ou came from t h e s t a t e s , so . . .

I s i t gonna be, i s i t , i s i t gonna be a

p r o b l e m f o r us too?

KABIR: [UI]

SANTANA: I s i t a problem?

DELEON: I s i t gonna be a p r o b l e m f o r u s too?

KABIR: No, no, 'cause I ' l l be out t h e r e .

g . L a t e r i n t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n , SANTANA a s k e d " Sa y f o r

example t h i s i s t h e l a s t time we speak, we're s t i l l g o i n g . Who

do we g e t a h o l d o f ? " KABIR r e p l i e d , " I ' l l n a i l t h a t s t u f f down

f o r you. I ' l l p r o b a b l y send yo u a message on h e r e . " KABIR s a i d

" I a l r e a d y t o l d some b r o t h e r s about you guys coming t h r o u g h and

u h t h e y ' r e l i k e ' b r i n g 'em down, man.'" KABIR asked them t o

g a t h e r funds f o r " t h e b r o t h e r s " ( a p p e a r i n g t o r e f e r t o

m u j a h i d e e n ) . T h i s l e d SANTANA, DELEON, and th e CS t o d i s c u s s

the code word orphan o r orphanage. DELEON e x p l a i n e d t h e r e were

two orphans KABIR was t a l k i n g about, t h e r e a l ones and th e

o t h e r s .

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58. DELEON, SANTANA, and the CS d i s c u s s e d the Skype

s e s s i o n a f t e r i t ended. DELEON t o l d the CS t h a t KABIR wanted t o

w a i t f o r them bu t he a l s o wanted to t r a i n and then come back.

DELEON s u r m i s e d t h a t KABIR w i l l se t something up f o r them i n the

event t h a t something happens t o KABIR w h i l e he i s away t r a i n i n g .

59 . The CS a s k e d DELEON t o e x p l a i n the word " s t u d e n t s . "

DELEON s a i d the T a l i b a n ar e th e " s t u d e n t s " and th e t r a n s l a t i o n

o f T a l i b a n means " s t u d e n t . " SANTANA then added t h a t the

" p r o f e s s o r s " are "AQ." DELEON and SANTANA a f f i r m e d to the CS

t h e y would t r a i n i n a T a l i b a n camp and then they would move/

advance t o A l - Q a ' i d a . The CS a s k e d who they were w i t h now.

DELEON s a i d " r i g h t now, we are g o i n g t o be w i t h the T a l i b a n . "

DELEON a l s o c o n f i r m e d t o th e CS t h a t the " p r o f e s s o r s " are A l -

Qa' i d a .

60. On the d r i v e home, t he CS a s k e d SANTANA t o e x p l a i n the

orphans. SANTANA s a i d the money f o r orphans would be h a l f f o r

orphans and h a l f f o r "the r a n k s , " which he c l a r i f i e d as

m u j a h i d e e n . The CS then a s k e d SANTANA t o e x p l a i n what KABIR

meant when he s a i d i n the Skype c a l l i t i s " r u m b l i n g " or i t s

" g o i n g , " which SANTANA s a i d i t was " w a r f a r e . " When asked who

they were f i g h t i n g w i t h , SANTANA s a i d , "The B r i t i s h Army, the

Army, [and] the M a r i n e s " and a f f i r m e d he was r e f e r r i n g t o th e

U n i t e d S t a t e s . SANTANA s a i d t h a t t h e r e were seven to e i g h t

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d i f f e r e n t t a r g e t s , i n c l u d i n g , th e U.S. A i r F o r c e , the U.N.,

"yahud" ( A r a b i c f o r Jew), and m e r c e n a r i e s or p r i v a t e

c o n t r a c t o r s . SANTANA s a i d t h a t he wanted to go to A f g h a n i s t a n

b e ca u se i t was the most a c t i v e s p o t . SANTANA l i k e n e d

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 to an a r e a of Los

A n g e l e s h i s t o r i c a l l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h g a n g - r e l a t e d v i o l e n t

c r i m e ) . When the CS a s k e d SANTANA about p h y s i c a l t r a i n i n g ,

SANTANA r e f e r r e d t o g o i n g t o the range, ammunition, RPGs, and

IEDs. SANTANA t h e n t o l d the CS t h a t he wanted t o go t o th e

" p r o f e s s o r s " because t h a t i s where A l - A w l a q i and Usama b i n Laden

were.

61. On September 4, 2012, the CS p o s i t i v e l y i d e n t i f i e d

KABIR v i a a p h o t o g r a p h .

62. On September 5, 2012, the CS met w i t h DELEON and

SANTANA. DELEON t o l d the CS t h a t no th in g would stop him from

making h i s t r i p o v e r s e a s .

a. L a t e r t h a t day, DELEON t o l d the CS t h a t he was

r e a d y t o go overseas anytime and d i d not need t o f i n i s h s c h o o l

b e f o r e he goes. When asked about p r e p a r a t i o n s b e f o r e t h e y

t r a v e l , SANTANA and DELEON t o l d the CS t h e y needed t o go t o a

s h o o t i n g range.

b. The CS a s k e d DELEON and SANTANA t o c l a r i f y

KABIR's statement from the Skype s e s s i o n r e g a r d i n g j o i n i n g the

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s t u d e n t s . DELEON and 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

A l - Q a ' i d a a f t e r j o i n i n g the s t u d e n t s . The CS asked them what

they would do i f Al-Qa 'ida asked them t o r e t u r n to the U n i t e d

S t a t e s t o conduct j i h a d . A f t e r i n i t i a l l y appearing

d i s i n t e r e s t e d , DELEON t o l d the CS t h a t as l o n g as i t was a one

way t i c k e t , he would conduct j i h a d i n the U.S.; SANTANA s a i d he

would c o n s i d e r i ti 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 a f t e r w a r d s .

63. On September 7, 2012, the CS, DELEON, and SANTANA

u n s u c c e s s f u l l y attempted t o c o n t a c t KABIR v i a Skype. DELEON

t o l d the CS t h a t he would r e s e a r c h the c o s t s of t r a v e l t o

A f g h a n i s t a n .

64. On September 9, 2012, the CS, SANTANA t o l d the CS t h a t

h e b e l i e v e d he was r e c e n t l y f o l l o w e d by a person. The two then

p i c k e d up DELEON and SANTANA t o l d DELEON about the person who

appeared t o have f o l l o w e d him. DELEON t o l d them they needed t o

i n s t i t u t e h e i g h t e n e d s e c u r i t y measures. DELEON t o l d the CS and

SANTANA t h e y 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 they

s h o u l d say they are l e a v i n g i n November t o throw o f f

a u t h o r i t i e s . DELEON a l s o s a i d th at they should use coded

language or t a l k v a g u e l y about t h e i r p l a n s . A c c o r d i n g t o the

CS, DELEON b e l i e v e d SANTANA was b e i n g watched by Homeland

S e c u r i t y . DELEON s a i d th at they shou ld pl an t o go t o a s h o o t i n g

range on Monday, September 10, 2012, and th at they shoul d use a

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code when d i s c u s s i n g t he shooting range. DELEON suggested t h e

word " r a n c h . " They u l t i m a t e l y agreed with t h e OS's s u g g e s t i o n

use t h e term "swap meet."

DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE

65. On September 10, 2012, th e CS, DELEON, and SANTANA

went t o a firearms range i n Los Angeles.

a. During the d r i v e t o Los Angeles, t h e CS observed

t h a t DELEON and SANTANA were e x c i t e d about t h e p r o s p e c t of

rewards f rom be in g a shaheed ( A r a b i c f o r m a r t y r ) . W h i l e at th e

range, SANTANA s e l e c t e d an M4 a s s a u l t r i f l e f o r them t o shoot.

While SANTANA and DELEON shot t h e r i f l e , they took tu rn s vi de o-

r e c o r d i n g each other. DELEON mentioned t o t h e CS that they w i l l

reap heavenly rewards f o r g o i n g t o the shooting range. SANTANA

and DELEON a l s o wanted t o shoot a handgun and r e n t e d a Glock

p i s t o l . When f i n i s h e d , DELEON suggested they keep t h e i r paper

t a r g e t s , which they d i d .

b. Afterward, SANTANA s a i d t h a t he had read about

weapons t r a i n i n g i n an i s s u e o f " I n s p i r e " magazine. DELEON t o l d

the CS t h a t h i s p r e f e r r e d r o l e when they t r a v e l e d overseas would

be on th e f r o n t l i n e s . H i s second choice would be 'C-4' and h i s

t h i r d c h o i c e would be "murabat" (ph) (appearing t o mean

" m u r a b i t , " an A r a b i c word f o r post o r guard). SANTANA s a i d h i s

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67. On September 18, 2012, DELEON, SANTANA, and the CS met

a n d d i s c u s s e d t h e i r t r a v e l p l a n s . DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he

had communicated w i t h KABIR th e p r e v i o u s n i g h t . DELEON t o l d

KABIR t h a t t h e y m i g h t a r r i v e i n Kabul sooner than o r i g i n a l l y

p l a n n e d and s a i d t h a t KABIR welcomed the news. KABIR suggested

t he f o l l o w i n g p o s s i b l e t r a v e l r o u t e : from Mexico t o Germany, t o

t h e U n i t e d A r a b E m i r a t e s , and then t o A f g h a n i s t a n .

a. DELEON t o l d SANTANA and t h e CS t h a t he p l a n n e d t o

t a l k w i t h an imam t o get a d v i c e on t h e "adab" of th e mujahideen.

DELEON t o l d them he wanted t o l e a r n how he ca n a c t l i k e and

i n t e g r a t e h i m s e l f w i t h t h e M u s l i m f i g h t e r s t h e y p l a n t o j o i n .

DELEON i d e n t i f i e d t h e imam and t o l d t h e men he p l a n n e d t o a d v i s e

t h e imam o f t h e i r i n t e n t t o go o v e r s e a s t o f i g h t .

b. DELEON f u r t h e r t o l d t h e men t h e y needed t o s t a r t

h i k i n g t o get used t o th e t e r r a i n t h e y would e n c o u n t e r o v e r s e a s .

DELEON commented on h i s i n t e n t t o s k y d i v e as he f e l t t h a t i t

would a s s i s t him i n u n d e r s t a n d i n g how h i s body r e a c t s t o f e a r .

c. DELEON t o l d the men t h a t he s h o u l d r e c e i v e h i s

t u i t i o n r e i m b u r s e m e n t i n f i v e b u s i n e s s days. DELEON s a i d t h a t ,

when he r e c e i v e d t h e money, he wanted t o go back t o a p a i n t b a l l

f a c i l i t y t h a t he p a t r o n i z e d r e c e n t l y as i t would be good

t r a i n i n g f o r "umrah" ( i d e n t i f i e d above as a code word f o r

v i o l e n t j iha d) .

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a c t u a l l y take over the c i t i e s and e n f o r c e s h a r i a law." SANTANA

s a i d t h a t he q u e s t i o n e d KABIR about f i g h t i n g a g a i n s t Yemeni

t r i b e s and t h a t KABIR s a i d th at "those Muslims" needed t o be

taken out b e c a u s e they were not on t h e i r s i d e . The CS asked why

they w o u l d go t o A f g h a n i s t a n i f KABIR was going t o go t o Yemen.

SANTANA s a i d they would not have t o s t a y i n one l o c a t i o n and

t h a t "AQ" was t h e r e . A c c o r d i n g t o SANTANA, KABIR s a i d t h a t

f i r s t they would go t o a camp and meet the " c o n n e c t i o n s " and

then could go do "umrah wherever they want."

DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A SECOND TIME

69. Later on September 20, 2012, DELEON, SANTANA and the

CS t r a v e l e d t o a sh oo ti ng range. This was t h e i r second such

t r i p . While on the way t o the range, they di sc us se d the

f o l l o w i n g :

a. The CS d i s c u s s e d t r a v e l documents needed t o e n t e r

Mexico. 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 from

Mexico t o Dubai t o A f g h a n i s t a n and the a s s o c i a t e d c o s t s .

b. DELEON s a i d t h a t he was going t o l e a v e h i s dad a

l e t t e r and mom a l e t t e r . SANTANA t o l d DELEON about the CS

l e a v i n g a l e t t e r f o r h i s wives. DELEON s a i d the CS c o u l d not do

t h a t u n l e s s the CS knew t h a t h i s w i v e s were "100 p e r c e n t down

w i t h the cause." The CS asked i f he c o ul d l i e i n the l e t t e r .

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DELEON r e p l i e d you can l i e when you a r e i n war and, " I b e l i e v e

r i g h t now . . . we ar e i n a s t a t e o f war."

c. DELEON s a i d he a l r e a d y had th e expenses f i g u r e d

out f o r t h e i r t r i p . DELEON s a i d Mexico t o Dubai was $1,300 t o

$3,000, depending on th e a i r l i n e . From Dubai t o K a b u l was $220

t o $500. DELEON e s t i m a t e d m i s c e l l a n e o u s e xp en se s f o r 3-5 p e o p l e

and $10 pe r day f o r f o o d c a l c u l a t e d t h e t o t a l p e r - p e r s o n c o s t as

$2200 t o $2500.

d. Upon a r r i v i n g at th e s h o o t i n g r a n ge , SANTANA and

DELEON s e l e c t e d two a s s a u l t - s t y l e r i f l e s to use. A f t e r s h o o t i n g

the weapons, DELEON remarked t h a t he s h o u l d have been 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 ago.

70. While d r i v i n g from the s h o o t i n g r a n ge , t he CS asked

SANTANA and DELEON about t h e i r c o n v e r s i o n t o I s l a m .

a. The CS a s k e d "what t e c h n i q u e s t h a t S o h i e l used on

you . . . t o get you and t o become a M u s l i m and l e a v e a l l , you

know, l ea ve a l l t h i s . . . not y e t become j u s t a Muslim, t o

become a f u t u r e , ya know, or p o t e n t i a l m u j a h i d . " DELEON s a i d

t h a t when he met KABIR, a l l KABIR t a l k e d about was the t r u t h and

r e l i g i o n . DELEON s a i d KABIR was " b a s i c a l l y a m u j a h i d w a l k i n g

the s t r e e t s o f LA. He was j u s t w a i t i n g to get h i s p a p e r s . And

I met hi m a t t h e p o i n t o f h i s l i f e where he was about t o go. He

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 a r o u n d . " DELEON s a i d t h a t

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meeting KABIR was l i k e meeting somebody from Al-Awlaqi or Bi n

Laden's camp who was " w a l k i n g i n LA." SANTANA s a i d t h a t he

swore KABIR had been a mujahid h i s whole l i f e and "came out here

t o r e c r u i t b r o t h e r s and l e f t . " DELEON s a i d t h a t KABIR d i d not

i n v i t e everyone who accepted dawa (appearing to r e f e r t o KABIR's

i n v i t a t i o n t o DELEON and SANTANA t o j o i n him i n j i h a d ) .

b. SANTANA s a i d t h a t , growing up, he was e a s i l y

i n f l u e n c e d by people, th

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