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Friday, April 19, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Two Anaheim Terrorist|Sympathizers Convicted

SANTA ANA, Calif. (CN) — A federal jury Tuesday convicted two Anaheim men of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS terrorists.

Nader Elhuzayel and Muhanad Badawi, both 25, were convicted after a two-week trial. It took the jury just over an hour of deliberation to convict them.

In addition to the conspiracy convictions, Elhuzayel was convicted of attempting to provide material support to terrorists, and 26 counts of bank fraud; and Badawi was convicted of aiding and abetting the attempt to provide material support.

Both men were arrested on May 21, 2105, as Elhuzayel tried to board a plane at LAX airport to go to Turkey.

"Badawi and Elhuzayel used social media to discuss ISIL and terrorist attacks, expressed a desire to die as martyrs, and made arrangements for Elhuzayel to leave the United States to join ISIL," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a statement Tuesday.

"In recorded conversations, Badawi and Elhuzayel 'discussed how it would be a blessing to fight for the cause of Allah, and to die in the battlefield,' and they referred to ISIL as 'we.'"

Elzuhayel was clever enough to use the ISIS flag in his profile picture on his Facebook page.

Both men face up to 15 years for each count of providing material support. Elzuhayel faces up to 20 years for each bank fraud count, and Badawi five years for aiding and abetting.

Elzuhayel will be sentenced on Sept. 19, Badawi on Sept. 26.

Both are being held without bond.

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