Friend of San Bernardino Shooters Indicted

(CN) - A federal grand jury indicted Enrique Marquez Jr., a longtime friend of Sayed Rizwan Farook, the male shooter in the San Bernardino terrorist attack, on charges of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

Marquez, 24, was also charged Wednesday with two counts of making a false statement in regard to the purchase of two assault rifles that were used in the deadly shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, Calif., on December 2.

The five-count indictment also charges Marquez with marriage fraud and making a false statement on immigration paperwork in relation to an alleged sham marriage with a member of Farook's family.

"This indictment demonstrates that we will hold accountable all individuals who collaborate with terrorists in executing their plans," said United States Attorney Eileen Decker.

"Marquez's extensive plotting with Syed Rizwan Farook in 2011 and 2012, and his purchase of explosive powder and two firearms, provided the foundation for the murders that occurred this month," Decker said.

"This indictment demonstrates that we will hold accountable all individuals who collaborate with terrorists in executing their plans," said United States Attorney Eileen Decker.

"Marquez's extensive plotting with Syed Rizwan Farook in 2011 and 2012, and his purchase of explosive powder and two firearms, provided the foundation for the murders that occurred this month," Decker said.

Marquez is alleged to have told investigators he bought the assault weapons two years ago when he and San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizwan Farook were planning attacks on Riverside Community College and State Route 91.

Those plans eventually unraveled, but Marquez turned the guns over to his friend. Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik used the guns in the attack on the Inland Regional Center, which also left 21 wounded. The couple was later shot dead by police.

The indictment charges Marquez with conspiring with Farook to provide material support and resources - including weapons, explosives and personnel - to terrorists, knowing and intending that such support was to be used to carry out attacks in the United States.

In addition to the conspiracy count, Marquez is charged with two counts of making a false statement when purchasing two assault rifles for Farook - a Smith and Wesson, model M&P-15 Sport, 5.56-caliber rifle that was bought on November 14, 2001, and a DPMS, model A-15, 5.56-caliber rifle that was bought on February 22,2012 -- that were used in that attacks. Specifically,

Marquez is charged with stating on a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form that he was the actual buyer, a statement that was, and which defendant knew to be, false.

The final two counts in the indictment allege that Marquez entered into a sham marriage with a member of Farook's family in November 2014 and that on July 17, 2015, he signed an immigration form, under penalty of perjury, that he was living with the purported spouse in Corona, California, when he was not actually living there.

Marquez, who is currently being held without bond, is scheduled to be arraigned in United States District Court in Riverside on January 6 at 9:30 a.m.

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