Alabama woman admits to trying to help ISIS terrorist group; Feds say she and husband wanted to attack U.S. military base
Published 3:02 pm Monday, September 12, 2022
An Alabama woman admitted Monday to attempting to distribute propaganda for an Islamic terror group, federal prosecutors announced.
Federal prosecutors say Hoover, Alabama, resident, Arwa Muthana along with her New York City husband James Bradley, attempting to distribute material in support of ISIS (the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham).
“In planning their support, Bradley and Muthana collected and distributed jihadist propaganda, including videos of Usama Bin Laden, and even chillingly expressed their desire to ‘take out’ American military cadets,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said. “Just one day after the anniversary of 9/11, today’s prosecution of Bradley and Muthana exemplifies that the resolve of this Office and our law enforcement partners will never waiver, and we will never forget.”
Prosecutors alleged that both Bradley and Muthana were ISIS supporters and the pair attempted to travel to the Middle East to fight for ISIS.
Bradley told an undercover federal agent that he was interested in attacking a U.S. military base and hoped he and his wife could attack the United States Military Academy in West Point. He later said he and his wife could take “out” all the ROTC cadets he saw regularly training at another university.
In addition to the threats, federal prosecutors said the paid also accessed, posted and distributed extremist online content, including materials indicative of their support for ISIS, including images of ISIS fighters, Usama Bin Laden and terrorist attacks.
Each pleaded guilty to one county of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. They face a maximum of 20 years in prison, each.
Their sentencing will be in early February 2023.