FBI: DC-Area Transit Officer Charged With Trying To Support ISIS
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Washington, D.C.-area transit police officer has been charged in an FBI sting with attempting to support the Islamic State group, authorities said.
The FBI said he is the first law enforcement officer in the U.S. to be charged with a terror-related crime.
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Court documents say 36-year-old Nicholas Young of Fairfax was arrested Wednesday morning. According to an affidavit, Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile apps that would facilitate communication. But Young actually gave the gift cards to an undercover FBI source.
"We know that part of the strategy that is used by extremist groups around the world, including ISIL, is to use social media to try and recruit followers from countries around the world," an official said.
As CBS2's Dana Tyler reported, Young had been an officer for more than 13 years, but the FBI said he's been on their radar for some time.
Documents show Young has been under surveillance since 2010, and that he traveled to Libya twice in 2011, where he said he joined rebel forces seeking to oust dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Agents arrested him on Wednesday, at police headquarters in Washington D.C. and charged him with providing material support to ISIS.
The government said he had been assembling an arsenal.
Young was fired after his arrest.
Officials say Young did not pose any threat to the Metro system. He had been employed as a police officer at the Washington Metropolitan Transportation Authority since 2003, according to court papers.
If convicted, Young could face up to 20 years in prison on the terrorism charge.
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