Munther Omar Saleh, 22, of Queens, New York, was sentenced on Tuesday to 18 years in prison, to be followed by a term of 10 years’ supervised release.
Saleh pleaded guilty on Feb. 10, 2017 for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and for assaulting and conspiring to assault federal officers.
Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Edward C. O’Callaghan, U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office and Commissioner James P. O’Neill of the NYPD made the announcement.
The sentence was issued by U.S. District Judge Margo K. Brodie.
“Inspired by ISIS’s violent and hateful ideology, the defendant conspired with others to use a pressure-cooker bomb in a terrorist attack in New York and attempted to attack members of law enforcement who were conducting surveillance of him,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General O’Callaghan.
“Today’s sentence is but one example of our resolve to bring to justice homegrown violent extremists who plot and attempt attacks on innocent people, including law enforcement agents, in the U.S. in the name of foreign terrorist organizations.”
“Munther Omar Saleh and his coconspirators conducted attacks on members of law enforcement who worked tirelessly to keep our city safe,” stated U.S. Attorney Donoghue.
“Saleh’s sentence will not only incapacitate the defendant for a significant period of time, but should also serve as a deterrent to those who contemplate waging violent jihad in New York City at the direction of a foreign terrorist organization.”
“This Office, and our partners on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, will never relent in our efforts to hold terrorists accountable for their cowardly acts, including attacks on those who protect us.”
“Saleh attempted to turn our city into a staging ground for violent attacks, including those aimed at both local and federal law enforcement officials,” said Assistant Director in Charge Sweeney.
“Directed by a known terrorist organization responsible for civilian massacres and other heinous crimes worldwide, he supported and attempted to facilitate the martyrdom of those with similar views.”
“Today’s sentencing promises he’ll remain behind bars for a significant period of time, upholding our faith in a justice system that has little compassion for those who wish to harm our way of life.”
As alleged in the indictment and in other court filings, Saleh and codefendant Fareed Mumuni conspired to support ISIS by helping their coconspirators attempt to travel to ISIS-controlled territory in order to join ISIS, and by plotting to use a pressure-cooker bomb to conduct a terrorist attack in the New York metropolitan area on behalf of ISIS.
On June 13, 2015, Saleh and another coconspirator were arrested in Queens after they attempted to attack members of law enforcement by charging at a federal officer who was performing physical surveillance of Saleh.
Saleh and the coconspirator were armed with knives.
(FBI arrests college student for alleged ISIS-inspired plot. Courtesy of TomoNews and YouTube. Posted on Jun 18, 2015)
Following his arrest, Saleh admitted to agents that he had discussed with Mumuni physically attacking the law-enforcement officers who were surveilling Mumuni.
On June 17, 2015, during the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Staten Island, Mumuni was arrested after he repeatedly stabbed an FBI agent in the torso with a large kitchen knife.
The knife did not penetrate the agent’s protective body armor, and he sustained minor injuries.
Mr. O’Callaghan and Mr. Donoghue praised the agents, analysts and prosecutors for their dedication and commitment to this investigation and prosecution.
The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon, Douglas M. Pravda, and Ian C. Richardson, with assistance provided by Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Bob Sander of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
