|0 9 1 CRIMINAL COMPLAINT UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT UNITED STATES OF A M E R I C A v.

SOHIEL O M A R K A B I R , RALPH KENNETH DELEON, M I G U E L A L E J A N D R O S A N T A N A VIDRIALES, and A R I F E E N D A V I D GOJALI, DEFENDANTS.

(COIPY
CL'- K 'J
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C E N T R A L DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
DOCKET NO.
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COURT --

MAGISTRATE'S CASE NO.

mi

1 1 * * A

12-

CE^iRAL DISTRICT OF GhLi,

2 _ (yolff

Complaint for Violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339A: Conspiring to Provide Material Support and Resources to Terrorists
NAME OF M j ^ S T S A f E JUDGE LOCATION

H O N O R A B L E SpERI P Y M
DiVTE OF OFFENSE 1 PLACE OF OFFENSE

UNITED STATES M A G I S T R A T E JUDGE

Riverside, California

ADDRESS OF ACCUSED (IF KNOWN)

August 2010
1

tijPrei^nt
;

Riverside, San Bernardino, and Los Angeles Counties

COMPLAINANT |^TMeMENT rpF FACTS CONSTITUTING THE OFFENSE OR VIOLATION:

Beginning on or about August 2010 and continuing to the present, defendants SOHIEL O M A R KABIR, R A L P H K E N N E T H D E L E O N , M I G U E L A L E J A N D R O S A N T A N A VIDRIALES, and A R I F E E N DAVID GOJALI conspired to provide material support and resources, including but not limited to property, services, and personnel, including themselves, knowing and intending that they be used in preparation for, and in carrying out, crimes of terrorism in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2339A. BASIS OF COMPLAINANT'S C H A R G E AGAINST T H E A C C U S E D :
(See attached affidavit which is incorporated as part of this Complaint)
MATERIAL WITNESSES IN RELATION TO THIS CHARGE:

B e i n g d u l y sworn, I d e c l a r e t h a t t h e f o r e g o i n g i s t r u e and c o r r e c t t o t h e b e s t o f my knowledge.

SIGNATURE OF COMPLAINANT

N.T. Elias
OFFICIAL T I T L E

hL

SPECIAL A G E N T - Federal Bureau of Investigation

Sworn t o b e f o r e me and s u b s c r i b e d i n my p r e s e n c e ,
SIGNATURE OF MAGISTRATE JUDGE(1) DATE

SHERiPYM

November 16, 2012

1) See F e d e r a l R u l e s o f C r i m i n a l P r o c e d u r e r u l e s 3 and 54.

(SJD, CDG, AWC)

REC: D e t e n t i o n

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND INFORMATION SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE THE DEFENDANTS S o h i e l Omar KABIR R a l p h K e n n e t h DELEON M i g u e l A l e j a n d r o SANTANA V i d r i a l e s A r i f e e n D a v i d GOJALI RELEVANT GROUPS AL-QA' IDA THE TALIBAN SUMMARY OF THE FACTS DEFENDANTS' DEFENDANTS' SOCIAL MEDIA STATEMENTS TO THE CS 1 4 4 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 15 19 27 28 31

SANTANA RENEWS HIS PASSPORT DELEON AND SANTANA DISCUSS JOINING TERRORIST GROUPS DEFENDANTS DISCUSS KABIR'S TRAVEL TO AFGHANISTAN

DEFENDANTS DISCUSS TRAVELING TO AFGHANISTAN TO JOIN KABIR DEFENDANTS DEFENDANTS DEFENDANTS DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE DISCUSS PLANS TO LEAVE THE UNITED STATES GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A SECOND TIME

34 42 43 46 50 53 54

GO TO A PAINTBALL F A C I L I T Y

DELEON RECRUITS GOJALI TO JOIN THE PLOT DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A THIRD TIME i

TABLE OF CONTENTS (CONT.) DEFENDANTS PREPARE FOR THEIR DEPARTURE DELEON GETS HIS PASSPORT AND SEARCHES ON-LINE FOR FLIGHTS GOJALI GETS HIS PASSPORT DELEON PURCHASES A I R L I N E TICKETS CONCLUSION 55

65 71 72 74

ii

AFFIDAVIT INTRODUCTION I , N. T. E l i a s , 1. b e i n g d u l y sworn, s t a t e as f o l l o w s :

I am a S p e c i a l A g e n t w i t h t h e F e d e r a l B u r e a u o f ("FBI") a n d have b e e n so e m p l o y e d s i n c e January

Investigation 23, 2005.

P r i o r t o b e i n g employed w i t h t h e FBI, January

I was e m p l o y e d

f r o m J u l y o f 1998 t h r o u g h State Patrol, the FBI, first

o f 2005 w i t h t h e W a s h i n g t o n With crime

as a Trooper and then as a D e t e c t i v e . involving organized drug trafficking,

I have worked i n v e s t i g a t i o n s fugitives, bank r o b b e r y ,

kidnapping, extortion, FBI

f r a u d , and t e r r o r i s m .

My c u r r e n t a s s i g n m e n t w i t h t h R i v e r s i d e Resident ("JTTF").

i s i n t h e Los Angeles

Field Office,

Agency, a s s i g n e d t o t h e J o i n t T e r r o r i s m Task Force

S i n c e November o f 2009, I have b e e n a s s i g n e d t o work international terrorism. I have r e c e i v e d s p e c i a l i z e d training

i n t e r r o r i s m a n d weapons o f mass d e s t r u c t i o n . 2. This a f f i d a v i t i s submitted f o r t h e purpose o f i n approximately i n various and elsewhere

e s t a b l i s h i n g probable

cause t h a t b e g i n n i n g

A u g u s t 2010 a n d c o n t i n u i n g t h r o u g h cities within theCentral District

t o thepresent, of California,

SOHIEL OMAR KABIR " R a f i q Abdul

("KABIR"); RALPH DELEON, a l s o known a s ("aka"

Raheem," a k a "Ya S e e n , " a k a "Ya S i n " ("DELEON"); Khattab"

MIGUEL SANTANA, a k a "Muhammad K h a l i d M i k a e e l

("SANTANA"); and A R I F E E N DAVID G O J A L I , a k a " A r i f e e n G h a z a l i , " aka " A r i f e e n G h o z a l i , aka " A r i f e e n d a v u d Gojali" ("GOJALI")

c o n s p i r e d t o p r o v i d e m a t e r i a l s u p p o r t and r e s o u r c e s , i n c l u d i n g but not l i m i t e d to property, s e r v i c e s , and p e r s o n n e l , i n c l u d i n g

themselves,

k n o w i n g and i n t e n d i n g t h a t t h e y be u s e d i n

p r e p a r a t i o n f o r , or i n c a r r y i n g out, crimes of t e r r o r i s m , including conspiracy to k i l l , and 18, kill damage p r o p e r t y kidnap, maim, o r i n j u r e i n violation persons of T i t l e to

i n a foreign country

U n i t e d S t a t e s Code, S e c t i o n 956; k i l l i n g officers

and a t t e m p t i n g

a n d e m p l o y e e s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s and a g e n c i e s o f and e m p l o y e e s United

the United

S t a t e s Government w h i l e such o f f i c e r s

are outside the United States i n v i o l a t i o n S t a t e s Code, S e c t i o n 1114; k i l l i n g

o f T i t l e 18,

n a t i o n a l s of the United

S t a t e s w h i l e such n a t i o n a l s are o u t s i d e the U n i t e d S t a t e s i n violation o f T i t l e 18, U n i t e d S t a t e s Code, S e c t i o n 2332(b);

c o n s p i r i n g t o u s e a weapon o f mass d e s t r u c t i o n o u t s i d e t h e United States i n v i o l a t i o n o f T i t l e 18, U n i t e d S t a t e s Code,

S e c t i o n 2 3 3 2 a ( b ) ; a n d b o m b i n g p l a c e s o f p u b l i c u s e and government f a c i l i t i e s in violation o f T i t l e 18, U n i t e d States States

Code, S e c t i o n 2 3 3 2 f ; a l l i n v i o l a t i o n Code, S e c t i o n 3. 2339A. set forth i n this

o f T i t l e 18, U n i t e d

The f a c t s

a f f i d a v i t a r e b a s e d upon and e x p e r i e n c e , and

my p e r s o n a l

o b s e r v a t i o n s , my t r a i n i n g 2

information obtained Officers, is witnesses,

from v a r i o u s

FBI a g e n t s ,

Task Force This affidavit

r e p o r t s , and o t h e r

sources.

intended

t o show m e r e l y t h a t t h e r e the requested

i s sufficient

probable

cause t o support complaint violations purport

a r r e s t w a r r a n t s and c r i m i n a l with does n o t regarding

charging

KABIR, DELEON, SANTANA, and GOJALI Accordingly,

of f e d e r a l law.

this affidavit

t o s e t f o r t h a l l f a c t s known t o me o r t h e F B I Unless specifically

t h i s matter. conversations related

i n d i c a t e d otherwise, a l l i n t h i s a f f i d a v i t are
1

and s t a t e m e n t s d e s c r i b e d

i n s u b s t a n c e and i n p a r t o n l y .

Summaries o f t o a l l t o p i c s covered of verbal Verbatim quotations in

conversations the

do n o t i n c l u d e r e f e r e n c e s A l l verbatim

communications.

quotations

s t a t e m e n t s a r e p r e l i m i n a r y and d r a f t o n l y . of w r i t t e n statements i n c l u d e o r i g i n a l approximate. ///

errors.

A l l dates are

Throughout t h i s a f f i d a v i t , E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s of A r a b i c words and p h r a s e s a r e o f f e r e d f o r ease o f r e f e r e n c e . Additional i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e s u b j e c t s ' use o f c e r t a i n language i s o f f e r e d w h e r e a p p r o p r i a t e and r e s t s on t h e t o t a l i t y o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n t o date, the context of the statements i n l i g h t of t h e f a c t s , p u b l i c a l l y a v a i l a b l e s o u r c e s o f i n f o r m a t i o n , my c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h o t h e r o f f i c e r s a n d a g e n t s who a r e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , and my e x p e r i e n c e and f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h terrorist organizations generally. 3

BACKGROUND INFORMATION SUMMARY OF THE EVIDENCE 4. i n 2010, and As d e s c r i b e d i n more d e t a i l b e l o w , e v i d e n c e shows t h a t t o Islam

KABIR i n f l u e n c e d SANTANA a n d DELEON t o c o n v e r t

introduced

SANTANA a n d DELEON t o r a d i c a l a n d v i o l e n t I s l a m i c o n - l i n e and by d i r e c t i n g Al-Qa'ida and other

doctrine,

i n c l u d i n g by p o s t i n g content

SANTANA a n d DELEON t o m a t e r i a l s f e a t u r i n g n o w - d e c e a s e d i n the Arabian Peninsula s p o k e s p e r s o n Anwar A l - A w l a q i via the Internet.

2

extremist materials disseminated KABIR c o n t i n u e d t o post

Thereafter, sites,

r a d i c a l content

t o s o c i a l media

some o f w h i c h DELEON a n d SANTANA r e v i e w e d i n c l u d i n g as d e s c r i b e d

a n d commented o n ,

i n p a r a g r a p h s 26 t h r o u g h 28 b e l o w .

A c c o r d i n g t o a M a r c h 2010 r e p o r t b y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s M i l i t a r y Academy a t West P o i n t ' s C o m b a t i n g T e r r o r i s m C e n t e r ("CTC"), "Anwar a l - A w l a q i : P r o f i l e o f a J i h a d i R a d i c a l i z e r " b y Christopher Heffelfinger,

s

A l - A w l a q i has a l r e a d y served t o r a d i c a l i z e a s i z e a b l e number o f y o u n g M u s l i m s , i n c l u d i n g A m e r i c a n s a n d o t h e r E n g l i s h - s p e a k i n g M u s l i m s who a s p i r e d t o l e a r n more a b o u t j i h a d and i t s p e r m i s s i b i l i t y a c c o r d i n g t o S h a r i ' a ( I s l a m i c law). He h a s t r a n s l a t e d a n d d i s c u s s e d famous A r a b i c l a n g u a g e t r a c t s on j i h a d i n h i s l e c t u r e s a n d a r t i c l e s , a s w e l l as h a d i t h s t o r i e s and o t h e r m a t t e r s o f f a i t h and d o c t r i n e . . . . What makes a l - ~ A w l a q i u n i q u e i s h i s r o l e i n t h e r a d i c a l i z a t i o n process, s e r v i n g as a c r i t i c a l l i n k that takes dedicated students of S a l a f i - j i h a d i ideology f r o m a n i n s p i r a t i o n a l t o a n o p e r a t i o n a l mode. Accordingly, al-'Awlaqi's greatest significance l i e s i nhis a b i l i t y to f u n c t i o n as a m o t i v a t i o n a l speaker, d e m o n s t r a t i n g a proven talent to drive believers into action. CTC Sentinel, M a r c h 2010, Volume 3, I s s u e 3. 4

5.

On December 28, 2 0 1 1 , KABIR t r a v e l e d f r o m t h e U n i t e d J u l y 2012. On July

S t a t e s t o Germany, where he r e m a i n e d u n t i l 24,

2 0 1 2 , KABIR t r a v e l e d t o A f g h a n i s t a n v i a D u b a i ,

U n i t e d Arab

Emirates.

R e c o r d s show t h a t , i n J u l y 2 0 1 2 , KABIR o b t a i n e d a to travel from Amsterdam t o K a b u l , Afghanistan, f o r one o f logged i n

one-way t i c k e t

v i a K i e v and Dubai.

I n t e r n e t P r o t o c o l ("IP") r e c o r d s show t h a t KABIR s u b s e q u e n t l y

KABIR's o n - l i n e a c c o u n t s to h i s account 6.

f r o m an I P a d d r e s s

that resolved to Afghanistan.

A f t e r r e a c h i n g A f g h a n i s t a n , KABIR c o m m u n i c a t e d w i t h

SANTANA a n d DELEON a n d e n c o u r a g e d SANTANA a n d DELEON t o t r a v e l from t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s and j o i n him i n A f g h a n i s t a n . informed and SANTANA a n d DELEON t h a t he h a d a r r a n g e d i n Afghanistan. KABIR

f o r SANTANA's SANTANA a n d

DELEON's a r r i v a l

KABIR i n f o r m e d

DELEON t h a t he h a d made c o n t a c t s i n A f g h a n i s t a n a n d t h a t he intended t o depart DELEON r e a c h e d that, f o r t r a i n i n g but would w a i t u n t i l KABIR i n f o r m e d SANTANA a n d

Afghanistan.

SANTANA a n d DELEON would join

upon t h e i r a r r i v a l ,

t h e t h r e e men i n i t i a l l y

"the s t u d e n t s , " r e f e r r i n g t o the T a l i b a n , before professors," referring t o Al-Qa'ida. 7. During the investigation, source

joining "the

SANTANA a n d DELEON
3

informed

an F B I c o n f i d e n t i a l

(the"CS")

that they planned t o

The CS i s a n i n d i v i d u a l who h a s b e e n r e p o r t i n g t o t h e F B I f u l l - t i m e f o r o v e r 4.5 y e a r s a n d h a s p r o v i d e d c r e d i b l e a n d r e l i a b l e information i n the past. As o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y l a t e 5

travel

from t h e U n i t e d

States

t o engage i n v i o l e n t j i h a d

and

t h a t t h e y h a d p l a n n e d t o do s o s i n c e t h e t i m e KABIR c o n v e r t e d them t o I s l a m . DELEON d e s c r i b e d During conversations potential targets w i t h t h e CS, SANTANA a n d f o rviolent attacks, At

i n c l u d i n g o v e r s e a s A m e r i c a n m i l i t a r y p e r s o n n e l and b a s e s . various roles times, SANTANA a n d DELEON a l s o d i s c u s s e d their

preferred stated

i n committing v i o l e n t j i h a d . firearms

F o r e x a m p l e , SANTANA

t h a t he h a d e x p e r i e n c e w i t h become a s n i p e r . front lines

a n d t h a t he w a n t e d t o

DELEON s t a t e d t h a t he w a n t e d t o be on t h e w o u l d be e x p l o s i v e s . to k i l l an

and t h a t h i s second c h o i c e

When t h e CS a s k e d SANTANA w h e t h e r he w o u l d be a b l e

enemy, SANTANA s a i d he w o u l d h a v e no p r o b l e m d o i n g s o . asked a s i m i l a r question,

When

DELEON s a i d t h a t he w o u l d " b l o w h i s o u t and send him t o , t o

[ r e f e r r i n g t o an enemy's] b r a i n s jahannam [Arabic f o rh e l l ] . "

I n S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 2 , DELEON a n d

O c t o b e r 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS h a s r e c e i v e d o v e r $250,000 i n p a y m e n t s f r o m t h e g o v e r n m e n t a s w e l l as i m m i g r a t i o n b e n e f i t s . The CS was p r e v i o u s l y convicted of t r a f f i c k i n g i n pseudoephedrine. When t r a n s l a t e d f r o m A r a b i c , t h e w o r d " j i h a d " means " s t r u g g l e " a n d c a n be i n t e r p r e t e d i n d i f f e r e n t ways. Evidence i n t h i s c a s e , i n c l u d i n g s t a t e m e n t s t o t h e CS a n d w r i t t e n c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , shows t h a t KABIR, SANTANA, a n d DELEON c l o s e l y f o l l o w e d a n d s t u d i e d t h e t e a c h i n g s o f Anwar A l - A w l a q i . A l A w l a q i , i n h i s 2009 e s s a y "44 Ways t o S u p p o r t J i h a d , " s t a t e d t h a t " j i h a d " i s an o b l i g a t o r y a c t f o r M u s l i m s and t h a t " v i c t o r y w i l l n o t be t h r o u g h e l e c t i o n s o r p e a c e f u l dawah, b u t t h r o u g h f i g h t i n g i n t h e p a t h o f A l l a h . " The e v i d e n c e shows t h a t KABIR, SANTANA, DELEON, a n d GOJALI u s e d t h e w o r d " j i h a d " t o r e f e r t o f i g h t i n g a s i n armed combat. 6
4

SANTANA r e c r u i t e d GOJALI t o j o i n them. t h e i r plan to t r a v e l 8. Evidence overseas

GOJALI a g r e e d t o jihad.

join

t o commit v i o l e n t

d e s c r i b e d b e l o w f u r t h e r shows t h a t DELEON, and continue to take, steps to

SANTANA, and prepare

GOJALI h a v e t a k e n ,

for travel and

from the U n i t e d

S t a t e s t o r e u n i t e w i t h KABIR by conducting and

in Afghanistan training,

j o i n t h e T a l i b a n and A l - Q a ' i d a

i n c l u d i n g p h y s i c a l e x e r c i s e and logistics,

firearms practice, passports, and

arranging travel visas. THE DEFENDANTS

including flights,

S o h i e l Omar KABIR 9. Security a 34 Records from the U n i t e d ("DHS") and S t a t e s D e p a r t m e n t o f Homeland show t h a t KABIR i s was a

the State of C a l i f o r n i a

y e a r - o l d n a t u r a l i z e d U n i t e d S t a t e s C i t i z e n who He was

r e s i d e n t o f Pomona, C a l i f o r n i a . Department of Defense r e c o r d s U n i t e d S t a t e s A i r Force the FBI has

born i n Afghanistan. i n the below,

show t h a t KABIR s e r v e d As

f r o m 2000 t o 2001.

discussed

l e a r n e d t h a t KABIR d e p a r t e d and

the U n i t e d States f o r in July 2012.

Germany i n December 2011 Ralph K e n n e t h DELEON 10.

entered Afghanistan

R e c o r d s f r o m DHS

and

the State of C a l i f o r n i a

show t h a t who

DELEON i s a 23

y e a r - o l d l a w f u l permanent r e s i d e n t a l i e n

resides i n Ontario, C a l i f o r n i a . Philippines. Miguel Alejandro 11. SANTANA

DELEON was b o r n i n t h e

Vidriales show t h a t who

R e c o r d s f r o m DHS a n d t h e S t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a

SANTANA i s a 21 y e a r - o l d l a w f u l p e r m a n e n t r e s i d e n t a l i e n r e s i d e s i n Upland, C a l i f o r n i a . i s pending c i t i z e n s h i p Arifeen 12. is David GOJALI show t h a t

SANTANA was b o r n i n M e x i c o and States.

i n the United

Records from t h e S t a t e o f C a l i f o r n i a

GOJALI

a 21 y e a r - o l d U n i t e d S t a t e s c i t i z e n b y b i r t h a n d a r e s i d e n t California.

of R i v e r s i d e ,

RELEVANT GROUPS AL-QA'IDA 13. publicly According t o the National Counterterrorism Al-Qa'ida Center's

a v a i l a b l e website,

i s d e s c r i b e d as f o l l o w s :

E s t a b l i s h e d b y Usama b i n L a d i n i n 1988 w i t h A r a b s who fought i n A f g h a n i s t a n a g a i n s t the Soviet Union, Al-Qa'ida's declared goal i s the establishment of a pan-Islamic c a l i p h a t e throughout the Muslim world. Toward t h i s end, A l - Q a ' i d a s e e k s t o u n i t e M u s l i m s t o f i g h t t h e West, e s p e c i a l l y t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , as a means o f o v e r t h r o w i n g M u s l i m r e g i m e s A l - Q a ' i d a deems " a p o s t a t e , " e x p e l l i n g Western i n f l u e n c e from M u s l i m c o u n t r i e s , and d e f e a t i n g Israel. A l - Q a ' i d a i s s u e d a s t a t e m e n t i n F e b r u a r y 1998 under t h e banner o f " t h e World I s l a m i c Front f o r J i h a d A g a i n s t t h e Jews a n d C r u s a d e r s " s a y i n g i t was t h e d u t y o f a l l M u s l i m s t o k i l l US c i t i z e n s - c i v i l i a n a n d m i l i t a r y and t h e i r a l l i e s e v e r y w h e r e . . . . A l - Q a ' i d a r e m a i n s

committed t o conducting a t t a c k s i n the United a g a i n s t American i n t e r e s t s abroad. http://www.nctc.gov/'site/groups/al_qaida 14. Secretary .html.

States

and

I n 1999, a n d c o n t i n u i n g t o t h e p r e s e n t of State designated the t e r r o r i s t

date,

the as a

group A l - Q a ' i d a

F o r e i g n T e r r o r i s t O r g a n i z a t i o n p u r s u a n t t o S e c t i o n 219 o f t h e Immigration THE TALIBAN 15. The T a l i b a n , ( a l s o known as " T a l e b a n " ) , i s described, and N a t i o n a l i t y A c t .

i n p a r t , by t h e N a t i o n a l C o u n t e r t e r r o r i s m

Center as:

. . . a S u n n i I s l a m i s t n a t i o n a l i s t and p r o - P a s h t u n movement f o u n d e d i n t h e e a r l y 1990s t h a t r u l e d most o f A f g h a n i s t a n f r o m 1996 u n t i l O c t o b e r o f 2 0 0 1 . The movement's n u c l e u s t h e w o r d " T a l i b a n " i s P a s h t o f o r " s t u d e n t s " - was composed o f p e a s a n t f a r m e r s and men s t u d y i n g I s l a m i n A f g h a n i s t a n and P a k i s t a n m a d r a s a s , o r r e l i g i o u s s c h o o l s . [In] S e p t e m b e r 1996, t h e T a l i b a n h a d c a p t u r e d K a b u l , k i l l e d t h e c o u n t r y ' s p r e s i d e n t , and e s t a b l i s h e d t h e I s l a m i c E m i r a t e o f Afghanistan. I n t h e y e a r s l e a d i n g up t o t h e 11 S e p t e m b e r 2001 a t t a c k i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , t h e T a l i b a n p r o v i d e d a safehaven f o r Al-Qa'ida. T h i s gave A l - Q a ' i d a a base i n w h i c h i t c o u l d f r e e l y r e c r u i t , t r a i n , and d e p l o y t e r r o r i s t s t o o t h e r c o u n t r i e s . The T a l i b a n h e l d sway i n A f g h a n i s t a n u n t i l O c t o b e r 2 0 0 1 , when t h e y were r o u t e d f r o m power by t h e U S - l e d campaign a g a i n s t A l - Q a ' i d a . http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/taliban.html. SUMMARY OF THE 16. FACTS violent files of

As o f O c t o b e r 2011, SANTANA h a d p o s t e d

e x t r e m i s t m e d i a on a s o c i a l m e d i a s i t e ,

i n c l u d i n g audio

Al-Qa'ida

t e r r o r i s t Anwar A l - A w l a q i , Peninsula's

articles

from Al-Qa'ida i n
5

the Arabian other

English-language supporting

magazine " I n s p i r e , " and violent jihad. SANTANA

comments a n d q u o t a t i o n s

i n d i c a t e d he l i v e d approximately

i n Los A n g e l e s and had c o n v e r t e d

t o Islam i n

A u g u s t o f 2010.

A p i c t u r e on one o f SANTANA's

s o c i a l m e d i a p a g e s d e p i c t e d what a p p e a r s t o be a n I s l a m i c militant f i g h t e r w i t h a c a p t i o n d e c l a r i n g "No one s h o u l d of Mujahid think

that the k i l l i n g for jihad) w i l l

( A r a b i c word r e f e r r i n g t o a f i g h t e r o u r movement, b e c a u s e i n

p o s s i b l y stop or hinder are tens

place to

o f one t h e r e

a n d h u n d r e d s o f l i o n s who a r e r e a d y My s o l d i e r s l o v e SANTANA l a t e r told

p o u n c e upon t h e r e g i m e ' s r u i n e d r e m n a n t s .

d y i n g more t h a n y o u r s o l d i e r s l o v e l i v i n g . " an FBI o n - l i n e c o v e r t t o Islam, employee

("OCE") t h a t , f r o m t h e t i m e he

converted

h i s i n t e n t i o n was t o engage i n j i h a d . s t a t e m e n t s t o t h e CS.

SANTANA l a t e r made s i m i l a r 17. Protection States entry. items

On J a n u a r y 1 3 , 2 0 1 2 , DHS's Customs a n d B o r d e r ("CBP") e n c o u n t e r e d SANTANA a s he e n t e r e d the United

f r o m M e x i c o a t t h e San Y s i d r o , C a l i f o r n i a , During t h e e n c o u n t e r , CBP o f f i c e r s

point of

a s k e d SANTANA a b o u t SANTANA t o l d CBP

t h a t he was c a r r y i n g on h i s p e r s o n .

" I n s p i r e " i s an E n g l i s h - l a n g u a g e o n - l i n e magazine r e p o r t e d t o be p u b l i s h e d b y A l - Q a ' i d a i n t h e A r a b i a n P e n i n s u l a . Among o t h e r t h i n g s , t h e m a g a z i n e i n c l u d e s r e c r u i t i n g m a t e r i a l and p r o v i d e s i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t how t o c a r r y o u t p a r t i c u l a r t y p e s of t e r r o r i s t a t t a c k s . 10

officers while

t h a t he c o n v e r t e d t o I s l a m

i n A u g u s t 2010 a n d t h a t through the

on h i s c u r r e n t

t r i p t o M e x i c o , he o b t a i n e d ,
6

Internet, 18. capacity,

a copy o f " I n s p i r e "

magazine t o read. acting i n a covert

D u r i n g t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , t h e FBI, e n g a g e d SANTANA i n d i a l o g u e t o the United States.

on-line t o determine h i s In e l e c t r o n i c

potential threat

c o m m u n i c a t i o n s w i t h t h e F B I o n - l i n e , SANTANA d e t a i l e d h i s acceptance of Islam, join Al-Qa'ida. 19. D u r i n g an o n - l i n e c o n v e r s a t i o n on F e b r u a r y 15, 2012, (an h i s s u p p o r t o f j i h a d , and h i s d e s i r e t o

SANTANA i n f o r m e d a n OCE o f h i s i n t e r e s t i n " f i s a b i l i l l a h " Arabic p h r a s e meaning " f o r t h e sake o f God"). t h e f o l l o w i n g exchange occurred: During the

conversation, OCE:

t o be c l e a r a k h i . . . what do u mean when u use t h e w o r d f i s a b i l l a h t h e y t e l l me t h a t t h e y l i v e i n a m e r i k a s o t h e y have d i f f e r e n t f i s a b i l l a h J i h a d y e s . . t h i s i s what must be c l e a r b e c a u s e i n some p l a c e s f i s a b i l l a h means s o m e t h i n g e l s e . . s o m e b e l i e v i e i t means p e r f o r m i n g a c t such as c h a r i t y o r J i h a d oh r e a l l y ? d i d n ' t no t h a t

SANTANA:

OCE:

SANTANA: OCE: SANTANA: OCE:

s o what do y o u b e l i e v e ? believe what?

a r e u t a l k i n g a b o u t c h a r i t y o r j i h a d when u use f i s a b i l l a h

SANTANA was f o u n d t o h a v e a c o p y o f i s s u e number 7 o f ' I n s p i r e " magazine, p u b l i s h e d i n t h e F a l l o f 2011. 11

SANTANA:

j i h a d f i s a b i l l a h t o e s t a b l i s h tawheed [ A r a b i c word r e f e r r i n g t o t h e I s l a m i c b e l i e f i n t h e o n e n e s s o f God] o v e r t h e M u s l i m l a n d s and t o s t o p t h e o p p r e s s o r s .

B a s e d on SANTANA's s t a t e m e n t s t o t h e OCE a n d l a t e r t o t h e CS, SANTANA a p p e a r e d t o u s e t h e t e r m f i s a b i l i l l a h fisabilillah" 20. and " j i h a d

t o r e f e r t o v i o l e n t j i h a d as i n war.

L a t e r i n t h e same F e b r u a r y 15, 2 0 1 2 , o n - l i n e w i t h a n OCE, SANTANA d e s c r i b e d how an A f g h a n him t o j i h a d i

conversation "brother" videos

( l a t e r i d e n t i f i e d a s KABIR) i n t r o d u c e d

and j i h a d i media, i n c l u d i n g " I n s p i r e " magazine, " t h e When a s k e d by t h e OCE i f he ( K A B I R ) , SANTANA s a i d he

u n j u s t m e d i a , " and " k a v k a z c e n t e r . " was was, still i n contact

with the "Afghan"

t h a t "he (KABIR) knows my i n t e n t i o n s , " a n d t h a t "we p l a n n e d SANTANA c l a i m e d t o t h e OCE

t h i s o u t when I became a M u s l i m . "

t h a t he went t o M e x i c o t o " t r a i n " a n d t h a t he " l e a r n e d how t o use f i x and shoot a l o t o f d i f f e r e n t kinda o f guns a n d I was

p r a c t i c i n g w i t h e x p l o s i v e s l e a r n i n g how t o u s e a n d make them." Later i n the conversation, SANTANA t o l d t h e OCE t h a t he was

" t h i n k i n g o f l e a r n i n g how t o be a s n i p e r . " 21. I n a F e b r u a r y 17, 2 0 1 2 , c o m m u n i c a t i o n , an OCE a s k e d he w a n t e d t o j o i n ; SANTANA replied

SANTANA w h i c h b a t t l e f i e l d "korasan,"

t h e n a d d e d "yemen."

The OCE a s k e d SANTANA what h i s replied

i n t e r e s t was i n " k o r a s a n " "help the brothers

o r "yemen" t o w h i c h SANTANA

p a v e t h e way t o J e r u s a l e m . " 12

( B a s e d on my

training special

and

experience

and

i n f o r m a t i o n p r o v i d e d by

other was

FBI a an

agents:

(1) SANTANA's use

of the word " k o r a s a n "

r e f e r e n c e to Khorasan, a t r a d i t i o n a l I s l a m i c r e f e r e n c e to

a r e a i n C e n t r a l A s i a and A f g h a n i s t a n , h e r e m e a n i n g A f g h a n i s t a n ; and (2) SANTANA's s t a t e m e n t appeared s i m i l a r " h e l p t h e b r o t h e r s p a v e t h e way to to

Jerusalem" a fatwa

t o t h e t e a c h i n g s o f A l - A w l a q i and directing followers to retake Jerusalem.) 2012,

i s s u e d by A l - Q a ' i d a

c o n t r o l of the Al-Aqsa 22.

Mosque, w h i c h i s l o c a t e d i n February 29,

I n an o n - l i n e c o n v e r s a t i o n on

SANTANA t o l d an OCE as DELEON) and "jihad

about a " f i l i p i n o b r o t h e r "

(later

identified

s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e were o t h e r s who The OCE

want t o make training

fisabillah."

t o l d SANTANA t h e r e i s a

camp i n J a l a l a b a d , A f g h a n i s t a n , his intention.

f o r SANTANA t o a t t e n d i f t h a t i s were i s t h i s akhi?"

SANTANA r e s p o n d e d " M a s h a l l a h

On F e b r u a r y 23, 1998, Usama B i n L a d e n and h i s t h e n d e p u t y , Ayman A l - Z a w a h i r i (now t h e l e a d e r o f A l - Q a ' i d a f o l l o w i n g B i n Laden's d e a t h ) , i s s u e d a fatwa d e c l a r i n g , i n p a r t , t h a t [ t ] h e r u l i n g t o k i l l t h e A m e r i c a n s and t h e i r a l l i e s c i v i l i a n s and m i l i t a r y - i s an i n d i v i d u a l d u t y f o r e v e r y M u s l i m who c a n do i t i n any c o u n t r y i n w h i c h i t i s p o s s i b l e t o do i t , i n o r d e r t o l i b e r a t e t h e A l - A q s a Mosque and t h e h o l y mosque [Mecca] f r o m t h e i r g r i p , and i n o r d e r f o r t h e i r a r m i e s t o move o u t o f a l l t h e l a n d s o f I s l a m [ . ] . . . We w i t h God's h e l p - c a l l on e v e r y M u s l i m who b e l i e v e s i n God and w i s h e s t o be r e w a r d e d t o c o m p l y w i t h God's o r d e r t o k i l l t h e A m e r i c a n s and p l u n d e r t h e i r money w h e r e v e r and whenever t h e y f i n d i t . See http: //www.pbs. orgy'newshoury'updates june98Zfatwa_1998.html. 13 / m i l i t a r y y j an-

a n d t o l d t h e OCE he h a s w a n t e d t o j o i n t h e b a t t l e f i e l d s i n c e he "took shahada" ( r e f e r r i n g in Islam). 23. During the investigation, occasions. t h e CS met SANTANA, DELEON, Over t h e c o u r s e t h e CS o f t h e i r of several plans with t o t h e t i m e when he d e c l a r e d h i s f a i t h

and GOJALI on numerous months, KABIR.

DELEON a n d SANTANA i n f o r m e d Although

GOJALI p r e v i o u s l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h

DELEON a n d

SANTANA, DELEON r e c r u i t e d September 2012. 24.

GOJALI t o j o i n t h e c o n s p i r a c y i n

On M a r c h 2, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS o b s e r v e d SANTANA w i t h a identified a s DELEON. The CS s p o k e w i t h t h e CS t h e r e

F i l i p i n o male, l a t e r

DELEON i n an u n r e c o r d e d c o n v e r s a t i o n . were a c o u p l e

DELEON t o l d

o f " b r o t h e r s " f r o m t h e mosque who want t o go f o r The CS a s k e d DELEON w h i c h k i n d o f "jihad." DELEON s a i d fisabilillah

"fisabilillah."

a n d DELEON r e p l i e d

t h a t t h e two men who so o p e n l y and

had been d i s c u s s i n g f i s a b i l i l l a h

had been d o i n g

h a d drawn t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e " f e d s . "

When t h e CS a s k e d jihad

w h e t h e r SANTANA was one o f t h e men d i s c u s s i n g fisabilillah, 25. DELEON s a i d "yes, Miguel."

During

an o n - l i n e c o n v e r s a t i o n

on M a r c h 9, 2 0 1 2 ,

SANTANA a g a i n

t o l d an OCE t h a t he w a n t e d t o become a s n i p e r a n d f o rt h i s . " The OCE told

t h a t he " a l w a y s h a d a b i g p a s s i o n SANTANA t h a t t h e OCE's " e m i r "

(Arabic f o r leader) 14

i s Al-Qa'ida.

SANTANA a s k e d "how do I make p l e d g e t o t h i s E m i r ? "

The OCE

e x p l a i n e d how t o do s o a n d SANTANA f o l l o w e d s u i t b y t y p i n g v e r b a t i m t h e f o l l o w i n g p l e d g e p r o v i d e d b y t h e OCE: 0 o u r b e l o v e d E m i r , on b e h a l f o f my b r o t h e r s i n a l - Q a e d a , commanders, a n d s o l d i e r s . I say: I g i v e a l l e g i a n c e t o you t o f o l l o w t h e Book o f A l l a h a n d t h e Sunnah o f H i s M e s s e n g e r , t o l i s t e n a n d obey i n good a n d b a d , t o have a l t r u i s m and n o t d i s p u t e w i t h people i n t h e i r f i e l d s except when we s e e c l e a r u n b e l i e f t h a t i s p r o v e i n t h e r e v e l a t i o n f r o m A l l a h a s much a s we c a n . When t h e OCE a s k e d SANTANA how he f e l t , feels like SANTANA r e p l i e d " I t

I t o o k shahada a l l over a g a i n . "

DEFENDANTS' SOCIAL MEDIA 26. I h a v e r e v i e w e d s e v e r a l o f t h e s o c i a l m e d i a web s i t e s

f o r KABIR, SANTANA, DELEON, e a c h o f whom h a s p o s t e d r a d i c a l p r o j i h a d c o n t e n t on t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e pages. Additionally, "liked" portions

8

o f t h e s o c i a l m e d i a show t h a t DELEON a n d SANTANA

p o s t i n g s on K A B I R ' s F a c e b o o k page a s e a r l y a s May 2 0 1 1 . 27. P u b l i c i t e m s p o s t e d b y KABIR t o h i s s o c i a l media

accounts i n c l u d e photographs radical

of himself, non-extremist content,

I s l a m i s t c o n t e n t , and items r e f l e c t i n g a m i s t r u s t o f

A c c o r d i n g t o Facebook, t h e " l i k e " f e a t u r e a l l o w s u s e r s t o share c o n t e n t w i t h o t h e r Facebook u s e r s . F o r example, i f User A c l i c k s t h e " l i k e " button associated with s p e c i f i c content posted on U s e r B's F a c e b o o k p a g e , a l i n k i s p o s t e d on U s e r A's F a c e b o o k page i n d i c a t i n g U s e r A " l i k e d " U s e r B's c o n t e n t ; U s e r B's content i sannotated t o note t h e " l i k e . " Similarly, Facebook's "share" f e a t u r e a l l o w s users t o share content i n a v a r i e t y o f ways, i n c l u d i n g t o t h e i r own p a g e , t o a n o t h e r p e r s o n ' s o r group's page, o r i n a p r i v a t e message. 15

m a i n s t r e a m m e d i a , a b u s e s by t h e g o v e r n m e n t , c o n s p i r a c y t h e o r i e s , a b u s e s by law e n f o r c e m e n t , and t h e war i n Afghanistan. KABIR's Al-Qa'ida

r a d i c a l p o s t i n g s i n c l u d e v i d e o s and l e a d e r Anwar A l - A w l a q i and r e g a r d i n g A f g h a n i s t a n and fighters terrorist depicting articles

l i n k s to videos of jihad-based

his lectures, elsewhere,

videos

videos d e p i c t i n g mujahideen videos d e p i c t i n g videos and

i n A f g h a n i s t a n and t r a i n i n g camps and

elsewhere,

related activities,

improvised explosive device r e g a r d i n g the death F o r e x a m p l e , on

("IED") a t t a c k s ,

of American s o l d i e r s i n July 6, 2012, KABIR s h a r e d Khorasan a video

Afghanistan.

t o h i s p u b l i c F a c e b o o k page e n t i t l e d Islamic Emirate Margha." Martyrdom Operation

"Knights of

A g a i n s t an Army B a s e i n depicts a the suicide

T h i s v i d e o , w h i c h I have r e v i e w e d ,

bombing o p e r a t i o n a g a i n s t a l a r g e base w h e r e i n

suicideand

bomber d r i v e s an e x p l o s i v e s - l a d e n t r u c k i n t o a b a s e detonates it. The video bears

the symbol o f As-Sahab, A l right corner.

Qa' i d a ' s .media w i n g , i n t h e l o w e r 28. KABIR has "shared"

s e v e r a l p o s t i n g s w i t h SANTANA

a n d / o r DELEON, b o t h o f whom h a v e " l i k e d " o r commented on s e v e r a l o t h e r p o s t i n g s by KABIR, i n c l u d i n g t h e a. entitled "shared" On December 7, 2011, following: a video later

KABIR p o s t e d

" B l a c k F l a g s o f K h o r a s a n : P a r t 2" t h a t he w i t h DELEON. ( B a s e d on my 16 t r a i n i n g and

experience,

conversations available

with other

agents,

and r e s e a r c h

of publicly

information, the black flag

f l a g o r banner r e f e r s t o a military

traditional leaders.

f l o w n b y Muhammad a n d l a t e r b y I s l a m i c

More r e c e n t l y , s e v e r a l j i h a d i flag

groups and t e r r o r i s t s

have a d o p t e d t h e b l a c k fighters.) b. regarding post

as a s y m b o l f o r j i h a d a n d m u j a h i d e e n

On o r a b o u t J a n u a r y 5, 2 0 1 2 , KABIR s h a r e d

a link

negotiating with the Taliban.

SANTANA " l i k e d " t h e

a n d SANTANA a n d KABIR e n g a g e d i n a p u b l i c e x c h a n g e o f SANTANA s a i d , " t h e y m e s s e d up know!" KABIR followed

comments.

SANTANA's comment w i t h a l e n g t h y include excerpts Afghanistan," United States

comment t h a t a p p e a r e d t o

o f a "Statement o f I s l a m i c Emirate o f the Taliban's desire t o expel the

which discussed

f r o m , a n d e s t a b l i s h t h e i r own g o v e r n m e n t i n , SANTANA r e p l i e d t o K A B I R ' s comment b y w r i t i n g "Oh

Afghanistan. yea!!!!" c.

On J a n u a r y 5, 2 0 1 2 , KABIR p o s t e d

a p h o t o on h i s

F a c e b o o k page d e p i c t i n g a v e i l e d a n d c o v e r e d assault r i f l e .

woman l e a n i n g on an

DELEON a n d KABIR e x c h a n g e d comments on t h e p h o t o goin

w h e r e i n DELEON s a i d " . . . h e y b r o a r e u c o m i n g b a c k ? w h a t s on? how l o n g u gona s t a y t h e r e ? "

KABIR r e p l i e d "Naa.. n o t c o m i n

b a c k . . . m o v i n 4wd.... =D.... H way 2 my d e s t i n a t i o n . . =D." ( B a s e d on t h e c o n t e x t of this statement, i n c l u d i n g the f a c t 17 that

KABIR was t h e n i n Germany, I b e l i e v e t h a t KABIR i n t e n d e d t o i n f o r m DELEON t h a t he h a d commenced h i s j o u r n e y t o A f g h a n i s t a n . ) d. On J a n u a r y 19, 2012, DELEON " l i k e d " a s h a r e d "Dua o f S h e i k h The v i d e o , t o be a which link

p o s t e d on KABIR's page o f a v i d e o e n t i t l e d

Muhammad a l M o h a i s a n y m a s j i d a l haram makkah."

I h a v e r e v i e w e d a s p o s t e d on KABIR's p a g e , a p p e a r s

p r a y e r f o r t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e mujahideen and f e a t u r e s v a r i o u s photos i n c l u d i n g A l - Q a ' i d a l e a d e r s Usama B i n L a d e n a n d Ayman a l 9/11 a t t a c k s , b l o o d i e d a d u l t s a n d c h i l d r e n , a n d The v i d e o a l s o c a l l s f o r t h e l i b e r a t i o n o f fatwa

Zawahiri,

Islamic fighters.

A l - A q s a , t h e mosque r e f e r e n c e d i n t h e 1998 A l - Q a ' i d a described above. e. On F e b r u a r y

13, 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA " l i k e d " two s h a r e d entitled

v i d e o l i n k s on K A B I R ' s p a g e , i n c l u d i n g one f o r a v i d e o "Imam Anwar a l A w l a k i - A S t o r y o f C o u r a g e . " f. On May 28, 2 0 1 2 , KABIR p o s t e d two

stories DELEON

regarding the death

o f A l - Q a ' i d a l e a d e r Usama B i n L a d e n . SANTANA " l i k e d " o n e .

" l i k e d " both s t o r i e s ; g. produced his

On J u n e 16, 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA " l i k e d " a v i d e o , A s - S a h a b , s h a r e d by KABIR t o This video, which I have

by A l - Q a ' i d a ' s media wing,

F a c e b o o k page e n t i t l e d appears

"Ghuraba."

reviewed,

to depict l i f e

as a m u j a h i d e e n f i g h t e r a n d

18

includes several interviews. fighters firing h. Al-Qa'ida Al-Awlaqi. i. shared artillery.

The v i d e o a l s o f e a t u r e s m u j a h i d e e n

On J u l y 5, 2 0 1 2 , KABIR p o s t e d a p h o t o f e a t u r i n g from

l e a d e r Anwar A l - A w l a q i w h i c h c o n t a i n e d a q u o t e DELEON " l i k e d " and " s h a r e d " t h e photo.

On S e p t e m b e r 16, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON " l i k e d "

KABIR's

l i n k t o a video e n t i t l e d

"The T r u t h Has Come a n d T h i s v i d e o , w h i c h I have with footage of The v i d e o a l s o

Falsehood reviewed,

has p e r i s h e d P a r t 1 Urdu."

i s a p r o d u c t i o n by As-Sahab and b e g i n s

A l - A w l a q i a n d d i s c u s s e s t h e war i n A f g h a n i s t a n . features current Al-Qa'ida 29.

l e a d e r Ayman A l - Z a w a h i r i . KABIR's p o s t o f

On S e p t e m b e r 17, 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA " l i k e d "

an a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d The And

"A P u b l i c T a l k b y U s t a d z A b u M J i b r i e l AR: The P l o t s Of The Enemies

T r u t h Of The 9/11 J i h a d O p e r a t i o n , The Z i o n i s t Conspiracy."

DEFENDANTS' STATEMENTS TO THE CS 30. On May 2 5 , 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS t r a v e l e d w i t h SANTANA, DELEON,

GOJALI, and o t h e r s t o L a s Vegas, Nevada, t o a t t e n d a c o n f e r e n c e . During thetrip, t h e CS r e c o r d e d many o f h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n s At the beginning of thet r i p , with

the defendants.

SANTANA t o l d t h e

CS t h a t he a n d DELEON were c o n v e r t e d

t o I s l a m b y t h e same later

A f g h a n i man ( a s d i s c u s s e d b e l o w , SANTANA a n d DELEON identified this man a s K A B I R ) . While d i s c u s s i n g law 19

enforcement, all

DELEON t o l d SANTANA, G O J A L I , a n d t h e CS " I ' d c u t During the t r i p ,

t h e i r t h r o a t s i f I ever had t h e chance."

t h e men l i s t e n e d t o r e c o r d i n g s o f l e c t u r e s b y A l - Q a ' i d a spokesperson 31. fighting. j u s t go." if Anwar A l - A w l a q i p r o v i d e d b y DELEON.

On May 26, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON a n d t h e CS d i s c u s s e d j i h a d and DELEON s a i d " [ i ] f I had t h e chance, r e a l l y [I] would even

DELEON a d d e d t h a t he w o u l d "welcome t h a t c h a n c e , anywhere . . ." ( a p p e a r i n g t o r e f e r t o a j i h a d overseas

i t ' s here,

w i l l i n g n e s s t o engage i n v i o l e n t States). a.

or i n the United

L a t e r that evening,

DELEON d i s c u s s e d a p l a n f o r jihad:

b e t w e e n KABIR, SANTANA, a n d DELEON t o t r a v e l DELEON THE CS DELEON THE CS DELEON As we were j u s t So

. . .

i t was y o u a n d M i g u e l ? We were g o i n g t o go.

Yeah. Wow.

And t h e n . . . 'cause my w h o l e f a m i l y i s U.S. c i t i z e n s e x c e p t f o r me. I'm not a c i t i z e n . So . . . [ u n i n t e l l i g i b l e ("UI")] t h e window a l i t t l e b i t . A n d t h e n , I was g o i n g t o go, b u t , my, I , I d i d n ' t have a v i s a yet. I h a d t o go t o t h e P h i l i p p i n e Embassy, a n d t h e n t h i s and t h a t . And t h e n , b a s i c a l l y , t h e b r o t h e r had already sold h i s car. I was g o i n g t o s e l l my c a r . Wow. B r o t h e r S o h i e l went t o Afghanistan?

THE CS

20

He's i n Germany r i g h t now. He's g o i n g t o go t o A-F-G [ r e f e r r i n g t o Afghanistan]. And, a l h a m d i l u l l a h [ A r a b i c f o r " p r a i s e God"] h e ' s a v e r y good b r o t h e r . Masha'Allah [Arabic expression of t h a n k s o r p r a i s e t o God upon h e a r i n g good news]. And t h e n t h a t ' s i t . A n d t h e n , I was w a i t i n g a n d w a i t i n g a n d w a i t i n g . And I t o l d my d a d , "Dad, I'm g o i n g f o r umrah" [Arabic expression r e f e r r i n g to a p i l g r i m a g e t o Mecca, S a u d i A r a b i a ] . But, you guys a r e a c t u a l l y g o i n g t o Afghanistan? Yeah, we're g o i n g t o go. Wow. And . . . . . . And . . .

When . . . wow, wow, wow, wow

And t h e n I a l r e a d y h a d a p l a n . We were g o i n g t o go t o S a u d i , b e c a u s e my u n c l e i s i n J e d d a h . A n d I was g o i n g t o go t o S a u d i . . . t h e S a u d i Embassy a n d t e l l them I'm g o i n g t o go f o r umrah, t h i s and t h a t . Uh h u h . A n d t h e n f r o m t h e r e , go s o u t h , y o u know, t o w a r d s maybe Yemen o r w h e r e v e r . Because i t ' s , i t ' s , and S o h i e l [ r e f e r r i n g t o KABIR] a l r e a d y knows people. So h e ' s a l r e a d y gone, h e ' s a l r e a d y . . . a l r e a d y gave up h i s l i f e . Wow. And s o M i g u e l a n d I , we're a l r e a d y , we're g o i n g t o g e t money f o r M i g u e l [ r e f e r r i n g t o SANTANA]. Already,

21

a l r e a d y s e t . We're g o i n g round t r i p . . . b. Later i n the conversation,

t o buy a

DELEON a n d t h e CS

discussed the following: THE CS DELEON THE CS DELEON THE CS So M i g u e l went t o M e x i c o , t o . . .

To p r a c t i c e To p r a c t i c e . Yeah. Wow. Do t h e y h a v e l i k e t h e r e , o r something? a camp i n

DELEON:

He h a d a, u h , he knew, he h a d f a m i l y who h a d , y o u know, weapons. Ok, ok. Y e a h , he t o l d me, b e c a u s e he i s from t h e . . . He p r a c t i c e d . DELEON said:

THE CS:

DELEON: c.

Later i n the conversation,

. . . But l i k e t e l l i n g you a l l t h e d e t a i l s , I r e a l l y haven't t o l d anyone. B u t , yeah from . . . from Mexico he came b a c k . A n d now I t o l d S o h i e l I am j u s t w a i t i n g f o r my U.S., y o u know, my c i t i z e n s h i p . ( B a s e d on my t r a i n i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c e , conversation, the context of the

a n d s t a t e m e n t s b y DELEON d e s c r i b e d b e l o w , DELEON's appears t o toward

s t a t e m e n t t h a t KABIR " a l r e a d y g a v e up h i s l i f e " reflect jihad. DELEON's b e l i e f

t h a t KABIR h a d s t a r t e d on a p a t h conversation

I further believe that this

indicates that

SANTANA, KABIR a n d DELEON p r e v i o u s l y f o r m e d a p l a n t o go t o Afghanistan a n d t o commit a c t s o f v i o l e n t j i h a d . )

22

32.

During

t h e May 2012 L a s V e g a s t r i p ,

SANTANA t o l d t h e

CS t h a t A l - A w l a q i i s h i s " s h i e k h , t h i s by listening 33. t ohim."

i s how I came t o I s l a m ,

A f t e r t h e L a s Vegas t r i p ,

DELEON gave t h e CS a thumb The CS The

drive containing a digital

copy o f A l - A w l a q i m a t e r i a l s .

p r o v i d e d t h e thumb d r i v e t o t h e F B I w i t h o u t thumb d r i v e c o n t a i n s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 32 a u d i o

accessing i t . files

o f l e s s o n s and
M

l e c t u r e s by A l - A w l a q i and a copy o f t h e aforementioned to Support J i h a d . " 34.

4 4 Ways

On J u n e 15, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON a n d t h e CS went t o a s t o r e . DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he met KABIR a t a h o o k a h KABIR. DELEON t o l d t h e

W h i l e en r o u t e , bar

a n d was i n t r o d u c e d t o I s l a m t h r o u g h

CS t h a t KABIR was c u r r e n t l y i n Germany a n d t h a t he was n o t coming back. the hookah 35. DELEON t o l d lounge. On J u n e 16, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA, a n d t h e CS, f o r a conference and r e t u r n e d t h e CS t h a t SANTANA a l s o met KABIR a t

t r a v e l e d t o San D i e g o , C a l i f o r n i a , on J u n e 17, 2 0 1 2 . During

t h e d r i v e t o a n d f r o m San D i e g o , l e c t u r e s by A l - A w l a q i over t h e

SANTANA a n d DELEON p l a y e d vehicle's speaker a. the system.

On J u n e 16, 2 012,

SANTANA, DELEON, a n d t h e CS h a d recorded:

f o l l o w i n g d i s c u s s i o n , w h i c h t h e CS SANTANA:

T h i s i s how I s e e i t . The o n l y way we're g o i n g t o be v i c t o r i o u s . . . 23

DELEON: SANTANA: DELEON: SANTANA:

Sword. i s by f i s a b i l l a h The [ph]. Yeah.

p r o p h e t , p e a c e be upon h i m

The o n l y way! O n l y way! I mean y e a h , i t ' s g o o d t o g i v e dawa [ A r a b i c f o r p r e a c h i n g ] , b u t i t ' s b e t t e r t o do f i s a b i l l a h [ph].

b.

W h i l e en r o u t e t o San D i e g o , DELEON, SANTANA a n d and m a r t y r s f o r Islam. DELEON and

t h e CS d i s c u s s e d A l - A w l a q i SANTANA t o l d DELEON t o l d t o t h e CS.

t h e CS t h e A l - A w l a q i

l e c t u r e s were " p r o h i b i t e d . "

SANTANA he h a d a l r e a d y g i v e n a c o p y o f t h e l e c t u r e s SANTANA r e p o r t e d t h a t he a l s o h a d A l - A w l a q i ' s

"underground" l e c t u r e s . c. training. SANTANA, DELEON, a n d t h e CS s p o k e a b o u t the conversation, firearms

During

SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he

w a n t e d t o become a s n i p e r .

SANTANA e x p l a i n e d t h a t he h a d s h o t SANTANA, DELEON,

v a r i o u s weapons i n M e x i c o , i n c l u d i n g A K - 4 7 s . and t h e CS t h e n d i s c u s s e d p l a n s

t o p r a c t i c e s h o o t i n g weapons a n d States. they

w h e t h e r t o do s o i n M e x i c o o r t h e U n i t e d d. had

DELEON a n d t h e CS e x p l a i n e d t o SANTANA t h a t t o u s e t h e w o r d "umrah" t o r e f e r t o

p r e v i o u s l y decided jihad.

violent

DELEON a n d SANTANA t h e n d i s c u s s e d w i t h t h e CS a t o u r i s t s when t h e y traveled jihad

p l a n t o wear r e g u l a r c l o t h i n g l i k e i n order was being t o avoid detection. waged a n d where t h e y

The t h r e e d i s c u s s e d where should 24 go f o r j i h a d .

36. discussed

On J u n e 2 2 , 2 012, going

SANTANA, DELEON, a n d t h e CS SANTANA

t o t h e range t o p r a c t i c e w i t h f i r e a r m s .

t o l d t h e CS t h a t he h a d a f r i e n d who w o r k e d a t a gun r a n g e where they d i d n o t a s k f o r anyone's 37. identity.

I n J u l y 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA, DELEON, t h e CS, a n d a n o t h e r man t o v i s i t w i t h DELEON's f a m i l y . b e t w e e n J u l y 2 a n d J u l y 8, 2012, SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t

t r a v e l e d by c a r t o I l l i n o i s During the t r i p ,

which occurred

t h e CS r e c o r d e d

several conversations.

he h a d s p o k e n w i t h KABIR a b o u t o b t a i n i n g money t o l e a v e t h e United contact help States. SANTANA r e l a y e d t h a t KABIR h a d t o l d SANTANA t o could

an i n d i v i d u a l

known t o b o t h KABIR a n d SANTANA, who

SANTANA o b t a i n t h e money. 38. The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t , d u r i n g t h e t r i p t o Chicago, Al-Qa'ida's

DELEON s a i d t h a t he o b t a i n e d

an u p d a t e d i s s u e o f

" I n s p i r e " m a g a z i n e a n d o f f e r e d t o l o a d i t o n t o t h e CS's thumb drive. The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t DELEON a n d SANTANA b o t h brought

audio-recordings

o f l e c t u r e s by A l - A w l a q i

t h a t t h e two p l a y e d

over t h e v e h i c l e ' s speaker system. lectures contained 39. During extremist

The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e

content. SANTANA t o l d t h e CS a b o u t h i s

the Chicago t r i p ,

c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h a n OCE. " b o o t camps" i n A f g h a n i s t a n .

SANTANA e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e r e a r e When t h e CS a s k e d SANTANA w h i c h

g r o u p was a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e camp, SANTANA s t a t e d t h a t i t was 25

"Al-Qa'ida."

SANTANA t o l d t h e CS, " i f I'm g o i n g

t o do SANTANA

s o m e t h i n g , I want t o do i t w i t h s a i d he t o l d " t h e b r o t h e r "

. . . [Al-Qa'ida]."

( r e f e r r i n g t o t h e OCE) t h a t he w a n t e d SANTANA t o l d t h e making that

t o be a s n i p e r a n d t h a t he t r a i n e d i n M e x i c o . CS t h a t he h a d t o l d t h e b r o t h e r an "oxide-peroxide

(OCE) t h a t he h a d t r i e d

t h i n g , o r whatever, from t h a t magazine,

Inspire" construct

( r e f e r r i n g t o SANTANA's s t a t e m e n t s a b o u t h i s e f f o r t s t o a peroxide-based explosive device set forth by f o l l o w i n g "How t o

instructions

i n t h e " I n s p i r e " magazine a r t i c l e o f Y o u r Mom").

Make a Bomb i n t h e K i t c h e n

Regarding attending a i s what I t o l d reason, them

t r a i n i n g camp, SANTANA t o l d t h e CS, " T h i s ( r e f e r r i n g t o t h e OCE). handle i t , strong So, I'm n o t g o i n g This I f f o r some w e i r d t o g i v e up.

i f I can't i s my life.

L i k e , because, t h i s i n this

intention.

i s what I d e s i r e o f d o i n g

e v e n i f I c a n ' t go t h r o u g h t h e b o o t - c a m p , I'm g o i n g I finish it." SANTANA a n d t h e CS

t o keep

trying until 40.

During the Chicago t r i p ,

discussed

SANTANA's i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h KABIR.

SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t (KABIR) discussed

KABIR " a l w a y s " w a n t e d t o do j i h a d a n d " t h a t ' s how he came i n t o I s l a m . " SANTANA e x p l a i n e d

t h a t he a n d KABIR w h i c h KABIR

SANTANA's d e s i r e t o j o i n t h e U.S. m i l i t a r y , described him as " t h e t r u e t e r r o r i s t s . "

SANTANA s a i d KABIR showed to join

Al-Awlaqi

a n d s a i d " L o o k man, i f y o u ' r e g o i n g 26

anything, they're cause." go f i g h t ,

join

the other fighting

s i d e , b e c a u s e t h a t ' s t h e s i d e where f o r something . . . a worth [ s i c ] KABIR " I want t o that KABIR

actually

SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he t h e n t o l d

man" a n d " L e t ' s do i t . " SANTANA e x p l a i n e d

t h e n t o l d h i m " I want t o go t o o . . . . t o A-F-G, y o u know. meet t h e l o c a l s , cause

What we c o u l d do i s go y a know,

Save some money, go g e t s e t t l e d , s e e who's d o i n g just continue."

s e e who's f i g h t ,

the right SANTANA from told

. . . j o i n them, f r o m t h e r e ,

t h e CS " [ s ] o t h a t ' s t h e r e a l i t y . fisabillalah." SANTANA RENEWS HIS PASSPORT 41. Consulate passport.

I came t o I s l a m

On J u l y 11, 2012, t h e CS d r o v e SANTANA t o t h e M e x i c a n i n San B e r n a r d i n o , W h i l e en r o u t e , Skype

9

California, SANTANA t o l d

t o u p d a t e SANTANA's t h e CS t h a t he s p o k e According to

w i t h KABIR u s i n g

on o r a b o u t J u l y 9, 2 0 1 2 .

SANTANA, he a n d KABIR d i s c u s s e d how he (SANTANA), DELEON, a n d t h e CS a l l d e s i r e d t o t r a v e l SANTANA i f he was s t i l l CS o f f e r e d t o h e l p the United States (for violent jihad). The CS a s k e d The

i n t e n t on c o m m i t t i n g

fisabilillah.

SANTANA g e t a j o b a n d e s t a b l i s h rather than t r a v e l i n g overseas.

himself i n SANTANA said

Skype i s a web-based c o m m u n i c a t i o n system whereby i n d i v i d u a l s c a n u s e t h e I n t e r n e t t o make a n d r e c e i v e a u d i o a n d video c a l l s . 27

he w o u l d n o t c h a n g e h i s m i n d . rewards 42. would outweigh L a t e r on J u l y

SANTANA t o l d rewards.

t h e CS h i s h e a v e n l y

any e a r t h l y

1 1 , 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA a n d t h e CS p i c k e d up W h i l e on t h e d r i v e , t h e CS

DELEON a n d d r o v e asked

t o Orange County.

DELEON i f g e t t i n g m a r r i e d , h a v i n g k i d s ,

or getting h i s jihad.

d e g r e e w o u l d d i s s u a d e h i m (DELEON) f r o m c o m m i t t i n g DELEON s a i d no a n d t h a t he h a d f i s a b i l i l l a h converting t o Islam.

i n mind ever s i n c e

SANTANA a l s o t o l d t h e CS he p l a n n e d t o gun r a n g e t o get the

t a l k w i t h a c o n n e c t i o n he h a d a t a l o c a l t h r e e o f them t o p r a c t i c e when he goes on t h e f r o n t 43. shooting.

DELEON t o l d

t h e CS t h a t ,

( r e f e r r i n g t o t r a v e l i n g o v e r s e a s ) , he w a n t s t o be lines. 12, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA, a n d t h e CS went t o SANTANA's

On J u l y

the Mexican Mexican

C o n s u l a t e i n San B e r n a r d i n o t o c o m p l e t e During t h i s trip,

passport renewal.

DELEON a n d SANTANA

t o l d t h e CS t h a t t h e y n e e d e d t o l e a v e t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b y no later t h a n December 2 0 , 2 0 1 2 . DELEON c o n f i r m e d t o t h e CS t h a t , fisabilillah), they w i l l e i t h e r go t o

when t h e y go ( f o r j i h a d

Al-Qa'ida or t o Palestine. DELEON AND SANTANA DISCUSS JOINING TERRORIST GROUPS 44. On J u l y 16, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h DELEON i n O n t a r i o , DELEON w h i c h group they would j o i n i f

California.

The CS a s k e d

t h e y went t o A f g h a n i s t a n .

DELEON s a i d "AQ" o r t h e T a l i b a n . 28

DELEON s a i d he h a d b e e n d o i n g thought

r e s e a r c h on t h e T a l i b a n a n d f o r t h e r i g h t cause. DELEON

t h e T a l i b a n was f i g h t i n g

went on t o d i s c u s s o t h e r a r e a s where t h e r e were l e g i t i m a t e jihads. DELEON s a i d t h a t i f t h e CS was n o t a b l e t o p r o v i d e DELEON c o u l d s e l l h i s c a r . DELEON said

money t o f u n d t h e t r i p ,

he h a d b e e n r u n n i n g t o g e t i n t o shape f o r t h e t r i p . 45. On J u l y 18, 2 012, SANTANA, DELEON, a n d t h e CS met a t s h o u l d go a n d

DELEON's home. whom t h e y

The t h r e e d i s c u s s e d where t h e y

should j o i n .

SANTANA s t a t e d t h e y s h o u l d go t o When a s k e d what

A f g h a n i s t a n b e c a u s e t h a t r e g i o n i s more a c t i v e . group they should j o i n , SANTANA s a i d "AQ."

DELEON b e l i e v e d t h e

T a l i b a n was a p o s s i b i l i t y a s w e l l , better." including: British,

b u t "maybe AQ w o u l d be

They a l s o d i s c u s s e d s e v e r a l p l a c e s w o r t h y o f f i g h t i n g , (1) A f g h a n i s t a n t o f i g h t a g a i n s t A m e r i c a n s , t h e and I s r a e l i s ; (2) t h e P h i l i p p i n e s t o Filipinos and t h e

and U n i t e d Nations
1 0

j o i n Abu S a y y a f

and f i g h t a g a i n s t a p o s t a t e

The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e d e s i g n a t e d t h e Abu S a y y a f Group ("ASG") a s a F o r e i g n T e r r o r i s t O r g a n i z a t i o n i n 1997. The S t a t e Department notes: ASG i s t h e most v i o l e n t o f t h e t e r r o r i s t g r o u p s o p e r a t i n g i n t h e s o u t h e r n P h i l i p p i n e s . . . [and] e n g a g e s i n k i d n a p p i n g s f o r ransom [ i n c l u d i n g k i d n a p p i n g s o f A m e r i c a n s ] , beheadings, a s s a s s i n a t i o n s , and e x t o r t i o n . The group's s t a t e d g o a l i s t o promote an independent I s l a m i c s t a t e i n western Mindanao and t h e S u l u A r c h i p e l a g o , areas i n t h e s o u t h e r n P h i l i p p i n e s h e a v i l y p o p u l a t e d by Muslims. 29

Americans;

a n d (3) P a l e s t i n e .

SANTANA s a i d t h a t he p r e f e r r e d

A f g h a n i s t a n a n d t h a t he t h o u g h t t h e m i l i t a r y b a s e s t h e r e c o u l d e a s i l y be ambushed " f r o m e v e r y d i r e c t i o n . " The CS a s k e d DELEON feel to k i l l have

and SANTANA i f t h e y h a d t h o u g h t a b o u t how i t w i l l someone. DELEON s a i d he h a d t h o u g h t a b o u t i t ' s for Allah."

i t and "wouldn't

a problem i f i t ' s ,

SANTANA s a i d he w o u l d n o t i t t h e more

h a v e a p r o b l e m w i t h i t a n d "The more I t h i n k a b o u t it excites 46. The the me." On J u l y 19, .2 012,

t h e CS, SANTANA, a n d DELEON met.

CS a s k e d DELEON t o c l a r i f y a comment DELEON made r e g a r d i n g mujahideen i n the battle f i e l d . When t h e CS a s k e d DELEON DELEON s a i d , "Me . . . I

how he w o u l d r e s p o n d i n t h a t s i t u a t i o n , f e e l how M i g u e l f e e l s . I am s o r e a d y . "

I'm a l l , I ' l l s n i p e t h e guy o f f . . . . The l e a s t I

DELEON went on t o s a y , "No way.

c a n do i s b l o w h i s b r a i n s o u t a n d s e n d h i m t o , t o j a h a n n a m [hell]." Islam w i l l DELEON a d d e d t h a t n o t o n l y t h e one who f i g h t s f o r be r e w a r d e d , will b u t e v e n t h e p e r s o n who l o a d s b u l l e t s ( b e l i e v e d h e r e t o be

i n t o magazines

be c o n s i d e r e d a s h a h a d a

a r e f e r e n c e t o t h e A r a b i c term shaheed, "martyr"). for

u s e d h e r e t o mean

The CS t o l d DELEON t h a t b e i n g m a r r i e d a n d p r o v i d i n g t o w h i c h DELEON r e s p o n d e d by

a family i s a type of jihad,

U.S. D e p a r t m e n t o f S t a t e Country Report on Terrorism 2 0 0 - 0 1 ; http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/1 30

2010, pp. 70479 .pdf.

s a y i n g i t was n o t t h e t y p e paradise.

o f j i h a d t h a t would get him i n t o

DEFENDANTS DISCUSS KABIR'S TRAVEL TO AFGHANISTAN 47. left On J u l y 24, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t KABIR h a d Afghanistan.

f o r home, w h i c h DELEON l a t e r c l a r i f i e d meant

(As I s t a t e d i n p a r a g r a p h 5, a b o v e , KABIR i n f a c t t r a v e l e d t o Afghanistan 48. and on J u l y 24, 2012.)

On A u g u s t 1, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h SANTANA, DELEON, DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t an i n d i v i d u a l known t o

a t h i r d man.

b o t h KABIR a n d DELEON a d v i s e d SANTANA, a n d t h e CS s h o u l d

t h a t KABIR s a i d t h a t he (DELEON), until KABIR training

n o t come t o A f g h a n i s t a n

f i n d s t h e r i g h t camp ( a p p e a r i n g camp) f o r them t o a t t e n d . 49.

to refer to a terrorist

On A u g u s t 8, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON t o l d

t h e CS a b o u t a r e c e n t DELEON t o l d t h e CS

Skype s e s s i o n he h a d w i t h SANTANA a n d KABIR.

t h a t SANTANA h a d done most o f t h e t a l k i n g d u r i n g t h e h o u r - l o n g call. DELEON e x p l a i n e d t h a t , d u r i n g t h e Skype s e s s i o n , he

(DELEON) o b s e r v e d KABIR t o be w i t h a p e r s o n who was a s h i e k h o r an imam. DELEON s a i d KABIR t o l d h i m he was l i v i n g i n Kabul near

a mosque a n d s a i d t h a t t h e y time and t h a t t h e b r o t h e r s that evening, DELEON t o l d

c o u l d come t o A f g h a n i s t a n would take care

a t any Later

of everything.

DELEON a n d t h e CS d i s c u s s e d A l - A w l a q i ' s

teachings.

t h e CS t h a t A l - A w l a q i ' s 31

v i e w on s u i c i d e bombers was

t h a t t h e y would reap h e a v e n l y rewards even though t h e p r a c t i c e of s u i c i d e i s forbidden learned by Islam. DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he o f men i n A f g h a n i s t a n

f r o m KABIR t h a t t h e r e

were s c o r e s

w a i t i n g f o r t h e i r c h a n c e t o d i e as s u i c i d e b o m b e r s . 5.0. On A u g u s t 10, 2 012, SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t t h e imam the recent Skype c a l l asked

who was p r e s e n t questions Quran. start

w i t h KABIR d u r i n g

o f SANTANA a n d a s k e d h i m t o r e c i t e a v e r s e

from t h e

SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t KABIR s a i d t h a t he p l a n n e d t o an o r p h a n a g e i n K a b u l a n d s u g g e s t e d t h a t DELEON a n d SANTANA c o n f i r m e d t o t h e CS t h a t

SANTANA c o u l d work t h e r e .

o r p h a n a g e was a c o v e r f o r t h e i r t r u e i n t e n t i o n s . 51. still the was On A u g u s t 13, 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t KABIR

p l a n n e d t o j o i n a group f o r j i h a d and t h a t t h e o p e n i n g o f later i n the conversation heavenly States

o r p h a n a g e , w h i c h SANTANA c o n f i r m e d

a c o v e r f o r t h e i r t r u e i n t e n t i o n s , was t o r e a p

rewards.

When SANTANA m e n t i o n e d a r e p o r t t h a t t h e U n i t e d

g o v e r n m e n t h a d p u r c h a s e d a m m u n i t i o n , t h e CS a s k e d w h e t h e r w a g i n g jihad i n the United S t a t e s w o u l d be p e r m i s s i b l e . DELEON

responded t h a t , i f t h e government e n t e r e d be permissible t o "spray" them (appearing

one's house, i t would to refer to firing jihad

a u t o m a t i c weapons) a n d t h a t A l - A w l a q i in the United States.

condoned c o m m i t t i n g

32

52.

On A u g u s t 15, 2 0 1 2 , d u r i n g a m e e t i n g b e t w e e n

SANTANA,

DELEON, a n d t h e CS, DELEON a d v i s e d t h a t t h e r e were no p l a n s f o r them t o a c t u a l l y work i n t h e orphanage. DELEON s a i d t h a t KABIR SANTANA

w o u l d work t h e r e w h i l e w a i t i n g f o r t h e m t o a r r i v e . concurred w i t h DELEON's s t a t e m e n t . trip DELEON s a i d

he h a d b e e n

t h i n k i n g about t h e i r stagger t h e i r they t r a v e l 53.

a n d t h o u g h t i t w o u l d be a d v i s a b l e t o overseas, l e a v i n g i n g r o u p s o f two when

departures

t h r o u g h M e x i c o en r o u t e t o A f g h a n i s t a n . t h e CS their

On A u g u s t 2 1 , 2 0 1 2 , DELEON a g a i n t o l d i n pairs.

p l a n s h o u l d be t o t r a v e l 54. During

a m e e t i n g on A u g u s t 2 9, 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA t o l d t h e SANTANA told

CS a b o u t a r e c e n t Skype s e s s i o n he h a d w i t h KABIR. t h e CS t h a t KABIR h a d s o l i d i f i e d h i s connections

t o t h e group

t h e y w o u l d j o i n a n d t h a t e v e r y t h i n g was r e a d y f o r SANTANA, DELEON, a n d t h e CS t o meet up i n K a b u l . KABIR s a i d the last

t h i n g he n e e d e d t o do was t o g e t h i s f a t h e r ' s p e r m i s s i o n o r forgiveness f o rengaging i n f i s a b i l i l l a h . session, During t h e Skype

KABIR e n c o u r a g e d SANTANA t o come t o AFGHANISTAN a s s o o n SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he e x p l a i n e d t o KABIR KABIR s a i d he w o u l d

a s he c o u l d .

t h a t he was w a i t i n g f o r DELEON a n d t h e CS. talk t o an i n d i v i d u a l

known t o b o t h KABIR a n d SANTANA a n d a s k SANTANA s a i d KABIR told

h i m t o h e l p SANTANA g e t t o A f g h a n i s t a n . him t h e c o n n e c t i o n

t o t h e j i h a d i g r o u p was t h e same man who was

33

sitting

n e x t t o KABIR i n t h e p r e v i o u s " s h i e k h " o r "imam").

Skype s e s s i o n

( t h e above-

described

According

t o SANTANA, KABIR s a i d

t h a t i f he l e f t Afghanistan,

t o j o i n a group b e f o r e

t h e men a r r i v e d t o

he (KABIR) w o u l d l e a v e them w i t h a c o n t a c t who

w o u l d a r r a n g e t o b r i n g them t o w h e r e v e r he was. 55. On A u g u s t 2 9, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS a n d SANTANA met w i t h

DELEON, who t o l d

t h e CS t h a t he (DELEON) h a d b e e n g e t t i n g i n for their trip. SANTANA s a i d he h a d been

shape i n p r e p a r a t i o n doing on t h e same.

DELEON a s k e d SANTANA what g r o u p KABIR p l a n n e d The CS a s k e d a b o u t t h e t e r m SANTANA r e l a y e d t o

joining.

SANTANA r e p l i e d "AQ."

"AQ" w h i c h DELEON e x p l a i n e d meant A l - Q a ' i d a .

t h e CS a n d DELEON t h a t KABIR t o l d h i m t h a t t h e m u j a h i d e e n i n Afghanistan Israeli a r e c u r r e n t l y f i g h t i n g American, B r i t i s h , L a t e r i n t h e i r m e e t i n g , SANTANA t o l d be r u n n i n g w i t h w e i g h t on h i s b a c k . U.N., a n d DELEON

troops.

t h a t he s h o u l d he

SANTANA s a i d

had seen v i d e o s

o f mujahideen i n Afghanistan

c a r r y i n g heavy (rocket

loads.

SANTANA s a i d t h e y

w i l l be c a r r y i n g "RPGs" gear.

p r o p e l l e d grenades),

ammunition, and o t h e r

DEFENDANTS DISCUSS TRAVELING TO AFGHANISTAN TO JOIN KABIR 56. and The On o r a b o u t A u g u s t 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA met w i t h t h e CS recorded.

s t a r t e d t h e S k y p e s e s s i o n w i t h KABIR, w h i c h was men d i s c u s s e d K A B I R ' s f i n a n c i a l situation

i n A f g h a n i s t a n and

a g r e e d t o Skype a g a i n

a t 6:00 p.m. t h a t 34

evening.

57.

At approximately

6:00 p.m.,

DELEON, SANTANA, a n d t h e with

CS met a t DELEON's home a n d p a r t i c i p a t e d i n a Skype s e s s i o n KABIR, w h i c h was r e c o r d e d . recordings o f t h e Skype c a l l I have r e v i e w e d a u d i o a n d v i d e o a n d , b a s e d on o t h e r

photographs of depicts

KABIR, b e l i e v e t h a t t h e image d i s p l a y e d d u r i n g KABIR. DELEON c a l l e d a " s h u r a "

the c a l l

(Arabic f o r a meeting or DELEON's p o s i t i o n as t h e States. In e a r l i e r

consultation),

which i s c o n s i s t e n t with

group's agreed-upon emir w h i l e discussions,

i n the United

t h e g r o u p a g r e e d t h a t KABIR w o u l d be t h e e m i r o n c e overseas. call, KABIR s a i d "Everything

they j o i n e d him a.

During the video

h e r e i s g o o d t o go i f y o u g u y s come o u t h e r e " Afghanistan). b. KABIR e x p l a i n e d t h a t he c o u l d

(referring to

leave

to j o i n the

g r o u p w h e n e v e r he w a n t e d a n d t h a t he w a n t e d t o "go do some p h y p h y s i c a l t r a i n i n g a n d t h e n b y t h e t i m e y o u g u y s come o u t h e r e , I'll come b a c k [ t o meet t h e m ] , a n d y o u g u y s c a n s t i l l roll

through." do

DELEON s a i d t h a t was " p e r f e c t . "

KABIR s a i d "So i f I

p h y s i c a l t r a i n i n g and s o m e t h i n g happens i n t h e p r o c e s s , I ' l l have e v e r y t h i n g s e t up a n d i n l i n e f o r you guys i f you

still

come o u t h e r e . " c. They a g a i n a p p e a l e d t o KABIR t o w a i t a n d he

r e i t e r a t e d t h a t w h i l e he w a i t e d ,

h e n e e d e d t o do some p h y s i c a l 35

training. it

DELEON t o l d KABIR t h a t he t r u s t e d KABIR a n d t h o u g h t t h e n t r y t o come b a c k t o meet

b e s t t h a t KABIR t r y t o t r a i n ,

them.

DELEON t o l d KABIR t h a t i f KABIR c o u l d n o t come b a c k , ( t o meet t h e m ) , t o w h i c h KABIR said

KABIR s h o u l d s e n d a b r o t h e r he w o u l d try. d. Afghanistan. Kabul.

The men t h e n d i s c u s s e d t r a v e l p l a n s t o r e a c h KABIR t o l d them t o t a k e t h e c h e a p e s t way t o g e t t o

SANTANA a n d DELEON t o l d KABIR t h e y p l a n n e d t o l e a v e KABIR t o l d SANTANA a n d DELEON t o have a "game I'm gonna go o u t h e r e

through Mexico. plan."

KABIR s a i d " Y e a h , y o u know what.

and I'm gonna c h e c k i t o u t a n d s e e how i t i s a n d i f i t ' s n o t worth i t , then I say i t ' s b e t t e r i f we go t o u h , uh, S a u d i "

( w h i c h DELEON p r e v i o u s l y d e s c r i b e d as a g a t e w a y t o Yemen). e. Later during the conversation, KABIR s a i d "if

w o r s e comes t o w o r s e where y o u d o n ' t h e a r f r o m me no more, period. SANTANA]. you know, You, you have Ok. [individuals known t o KABIR, DELON, a n d And

They know where I am a t a n d who I am w i t h .

know my l o c a t i o n a n d y o u come o u t h e r e , t h e n t h e r i g h t come a n d meet y o u g u y s . " Later i n the conversation, SANTANA a s k e d KABIR

person w i l l f. the

following: SANTANA: A n d urn, I w a n t e d t o a s k , t h e t h e b r o t h e r s t h a t y o u do know t h a t have b e e n t h e r e done t h a t , what g r o u p do 36

they belong t o ?

Do t h e y b e l o n g t o t h e

DELEON: SANTANA: KABIR: SANTANA: DELEON: DELEON: THE CS:

Students? ...

1 1

t o t h e "A," o r t h e , t h e . ...

Students. Students. [Talking Students. What's over each o t h e r ] Students. Students. that.

I like

students? whispers "Taliban."]

[Unknown p e r s o n KABIR:

I t was t h e s t u d e n t s . The o t h e r ones a r e up i n t h e m o u n t a i n s . Yeah, yeah, I g e t y a . understand. Got i t . [UI] Got i t . [UI] I

DELEON:

THE CS:

The o t h e r one . . .

KABIR:

The s t u d e n t s a r e o v e r throughout t h e c i t i e s a l l o v e r t h e map. B u t f a k e s t u d e n t s t o o , so Definitely. . . . soldiers. Urn.

here a l l man. They a r e [UI] t h e r e a r e though . . .

DELEON: KABIR: SANTANA: KABIR:

[UI] . . . t h e y ' r e o v e r h e r e t o o , s o . T h a t ' s why y o u . . . I t ' s a, i t ' s a t r i c k y game o u t h e r e . B u t , insha'Allah, everything's cool. So f r o m t h e s t u d e n t s do y o u a d v a n c e t o t h e p r o f e s s o r s ? Or . . .

SANTANA:

As n o t e d a b o v e , t h e P a s h t o w o r d f o r " s t u d e n t s " i s " t a l i b a n , " which i s i t s e l f a c o m b i n a t i o n o f t h e A r a b i c word f o r s t u d e n t , " t a l i b , " and t h e I n d o - I r a n i a n p l u r a l s u f f i x "an." 37

KABIR: SANTANA: KABIR:

Ya,

that's a l l ,

o f c o u r s e y o u do.

Oh, o k a y . T h a t ' s t h e f i r s t t h i n g y o u g o t t a do i s meet t h e p r o f e s s o r . The p r o f e s s o r d e c i d e s i f i t , i f i t i s a l l good, i f i t ' s good t o go o r n o t . I t was a l i t t l e c o m p l i c a t e d w i t h me b e c a u s e I came f r o m t h e U.S. Oh. So, t h e s e f o o l s a l r e a d y were l i k e , y a man, y o u came f r o m t h e s t a t e s , s o . . . I s i t gonna b e , i s i t , i s i t gonna be a p r o b l e m f o r us t o o ? [UI] I s i t a problem? I s i t gonna be a p r o b l e m f o r u s t o o ? No, no, 'cause I ' l l be o u t t h e r e .

SANTANA: KABIR:

THE CS:

KABIR: SANTANA: DELEON: KABIR: g. example t h i s

Later i n the conversation, i s the last

SANTANA a s k e d " S a y f o r going. Who

t i m e we s p e a k , we're s t i l l "I'll nail

do we g e t a h o l d o f ? " KABIR r e p l i e d , f o r you. I'll probably

t h a t s t u f f down KABIR said

s e n d y o u a message on h e r e . "

"I already t o l d uh they're like

some b r o t h e r s 'bring

a b o u t y o u g u y s c o m i n g t h r o u g h and KABIR a s k e d them t o to refer to

'em down, man.'"

gather

funds f o r "the b r o t h e r s " This

(appearing

mujahideen). the

l e d SANTANA, DELEON, and t h e CS t o d i s c u s s DELEON e x p l a i n e d t h e r e ones and t h e were

code word orphan o r orphanage.

two o r p h a n s KABIR was t a l k i n g others.

about, t h e r e a l

3i

58.

DELEON, SANTANA, a n d t h e CS d i s c u s s e d

t h e Skype

s e s s i o n a f t e r i t ended. wait

DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t KABIR w a n t e d t o a n d t h e n come b a c k .

f o r them b u t he a l s o w a n t e d t o t r a i n

DELEON s u r m i s e d t h a t KABIR w i l l event t h a t 59.

s e t s o m e t h i n g up f o r them i n t h e he i s away t r a i n i n g . "students."

s o m e t h i n g h a p p e n s t o KABIR w h i l e

The CS a s k e d DELEON t o e x p l a i n t h e w o r d

DELEON s a i d t h e T a l i b a n a r e t h e " s t u d e n t s " o f T a l i b a n means " s t u d e n t . " " p r o f e s s o r s " a r e "AQ."

and t h e t r a n s l a t i o n

SANTANA t h e n a d d e d t h a t t h e

DELEON a n d SANTANA a f f i r m e d t o t h e CS

t h e y w o u l d t r a i n i n a T a l i b a n camp a n d t h e n t h e y w o u l d move/ advance t o A l - Q a ' i d a . DELEON s a i d The CS a s k e d who t h e y were w i t h now. t o be w i t h t h e T a l i b a n . "

" r i g h t now, we a r e g o i n g

DELEON a l s o c o n f i r m e d Qa' i d a . 60. orphans.

t o t h e CS t h a t t h e " p r o f e s s o r s " a r e A l -

On t h e d r i v e home, t h e CS a s k e d SANTANA t o e x p l a i n t h e SANTANA s a i d t h e money f o r o r p h a n s w o u l d be h a l f f o r f o r "the ranks," w h i c h he c l a r i f i e d as

orphans and h a l f mujahideen.

The CS t h e n a s k e d SANTANA t o e x p l a i n what KABIR i n t h e Skype c a l l i t i s "rumbling" or i t s

meant when he s a i d "going,"

w h i c h SANTANA s a i d i t was " w a r f a r e . " SANTANA s a i d ,

When a s k e d who

t h e y were f i g h t i n g w i t h , Army, United

"The B r i t i s h Army, t h e

[and] t h e M a r i n e s " a n d a f f i r m e d he was r e f e r r i n g t o t h e States. SANTANA s a i d t h a t t h e r e were s e v e n t o e i g h t

39

different targets, "yahud"

including,

t h e U.S. A i r F o r c e , t h e U.N.,

( A r a b i c f o r Jew), and m e r c e n a r i e s o r p r i v a t e SANTANA s a i d t h a t he w a n t e d t o go t o A f g h a n i s t a n SANTANA likened

contractors. because

i t was t h e most a c t i v e s p o t .

A f g h a n i s t a n t o "South C e n t r a l "

( r e f e r r i n g t o an a r e a o f L o s

Angeles h i s t o r i c a l l y associated with gang-related v i o l e n t crime). When t h e CS a s k e d SANTANA a b o u t p h y s i c a l training, RPGs, and

SANTANA r e f e r r e d t o g o i n g t o t h e r a n g e , a m m u n i t i o n , IEDs.

SANTANA t h e n t o l d t h e CS t h a t he w a n t e d t o go t o t h e t h a t i s where A l - A w l a q i a n d Usama b i n Laden

" p r o f e s s o r s " because were. 61.

On S e p t e m b e r 4, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS p o s i t i v e l y

identified

KABIR v i a a p h o t o g r a p h . 62. SANTANA. making On S e p t e m b e r 5, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h DELEON a n d DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t n o t h i n g w o u l d stop him from

h i s t r i p overseas. a. L a t e r t h a t d a y , DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he was school

r e a d y t o go o v e r s e a s a n y t i m e a n d d i d n o t n e e d t o f i n i s h b e f o r e he g o e s . travel, shooting

When a s k e d a b o u t p r e p a r a t i o n s b e f o r e t h e y

SANTANA a n d DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h e y n e e d e d t o go t o a range. b. The CS a s k e d DELEON a n d SANTANA t o c l a r i f y

K A B I R ' s s t a t e m e n t f r o m t h e Skype s e s s i o n r e g a r d i n g j o i n i n g t h e 40

students. Al-Qa'ida

DELEON a n d SANTANA a f f i r m e d t h e i r p l a n was t o j o i n after j o i n i n g the students. asked The CS a s k e d them what

t h e y w o u l d do i f A l - Q a ' i d a States t o conduct j i h a d . disinterested, way ticket,

them t o r e t u r n t o t h e U n i t e d appearing

After i n i t i a l l y

DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t a s l o n g a s i t was a one-

he w o u l d c o n d u c t j i h a d i n t h e U.S.; SANTANA s a i d he afterwards.

w o u l d c o n s i d e r i t i f he c o u l d r e t u r n t o A f g h a n i s t a n 63.

On S e p t e m b e r 7, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS, DELEON, a n d SANTANA t o c o n t a c t KABIR v i a S k y p e . DELEON

u n s u c c e s s f u l l y attempted

t o l d t h e CS t h a t he w o u l d r e s e a r c h t h e c o s t s o f t r a v e l t o Afghanistan. 64. On S e p t e m b e r 9, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS, SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t The two t h e n who

he b e l i e v e d he was r e c e n t l y f o l l o w e d b y a p e r s o n . p i c k e d up DELEON a n d SANTANA t o l d appeared t o have f o l l o w e d him. i n s t i t u t e heightened SANTANA t h e y

DELEON a b o u t t h e p e r s o n

DELEON t o l d them t h e y n e e d e d t o DELEON t o l d t h e CS and they

s e c u r i t y measures.

s h o u l d a v o i d d i s c u s s i n g s p e c i f i c s and s a i d

s h o u l d s a y t h e y a r e l e a v i n g i n November t o t h r o w o f f authorities. DELEON a l s o s a i d t h a t t h e y s h o u l d u s e c o d e d about t h e i r p l a n s . According to the

language o r t a l k vaguely CS,

DELEON b e l i e v e d SANTANA was b e i n g w a t c h e d b y Homeland DELEON s a i d t h a t t h e y s h o u l d p l a n t o go t o a s h o o t i n g

Security.

r a n g e on Monday, S e p t e m b e r 10, 2 0 1 2 , a n d t h a t t h e y s h o u l d u s e a

41

code when d i s c u s s i n g t h e s h o o t i n g r a n g e . word " r a n c h . " use

DELEON s u g g e s t e d t h e

They u l t i m a t e l y a g r e e d w i t h t h e OS's s u g g e s t i o n

t h e t e r m "swap m e e t . "

DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE 65. On S e p t e m b e r 10, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS, DELEON, a n d SANTANA i n Los Angeles. t h e CS o b s e r v e d

went t o a f i r e a r m s r a n g e a.

During t h e d r i v e t o Los Angeles,

t h a t DELEON a n d SANTANA w e r e e x c i t e d a b o u t t h e p r o s p e c t o f rewards range, While from b e i n g a shaheed (Arabic f o r martyr). While at the

SANTANA s e l e c t e d a n M4 a s s a u l t r i f l e SANTANA a n d DELEON s h o t t h e r i f l e , other. rewards DELEON m e n t i o n e d

f o r them t o s h o o t .

they took turns videot o t h e CS t h a t t h e y will

r e c o r d i n g each reap heavenly and

f o r going t o t h e s h o o t i n g range.

SANTANA

DELEON a l s o w a n t e d t o s h o o t When f i n i s h e d , they d i d .

a handgun a n d r e n t e d a G l o c k t h e y keep t h e i r paper

pistol.

DELEON s u g g e s t e d

t a r g e t s , which b.

A f t e r w a r d , SANTANA s a i d t h a t he h a d r e a d i n an i s s u e o f " I n s p i r e " magazine.

about told would

weapons t r a i n i n g

DELEON

t h e CS t h a t h i s p r e f e r r e d r o l e when t h e y t r a v e l e d o v e r s e a s be o n t h e f r o n t lines. H i s second

c h o i c e w o u l d be 'C-4' a n d h i s

t h i r d c h o i c e w o u l d be " m u r a b a t "

(ph) ( a p p e a r i n g t o mean SANTANA s a i d h i s

" m u r a b i t , " an A r a b i c word f o r p o s t o r g u a r d ) .

42

first

c h o i c e w o u l d be a s n i p e r , h i s s e c o n d c h o i c e was t o be on lines, c. a n d h i s t h i r d c h o i c e w o u l d be a r t i l l e r y . t h e CS w a n t e d t o be on t h e

the f r o n t

DELEON a s k e d w h e t h e r

front

l i n e s a n d t h e CS a g r e e d .

DELEON t h e n s a i d " I ' d s a y C-4 So I want t o go

number o n e , b u t I want t o e n j o y my, my t a r g e t s . on f r o n t l i n e . " one it

SANTANA a d d e d " I wanna do C-4s i f I c o u l d p u t Just drive

o f t h e s e t r u c k s r i g h t h e r e w i t h my, w i t h t h a t . into l i k e t h e baddest m i l i t a r y base."

The CS r e p l i e d t o

SANTANA b y s a y i n g t h a t one w o u l d n o t n e e d t h a t b i g o f a t r u c k f o r C-4. SANTANA s a i d " I f I'm gonna do, I'm gonna do t h a t , I'm

gonna t a k e o u t a w h o l e b a s e . y a know." made t h i s

M i g h t a s w e l l make i t l i k e , b i g , a t t h e t i m e SANTANA tractor-trailer

(The CS i n f o r m e d a g e n t s t h a t ,

comment, he was r e f e r r i n g t o a l a r g e

t r u c k t h a t d r o v e b y them.) DEFENDANTS DISCUSS PLANS TO LEAVE THE UNITED STATES 66. On Monday, S e p t e m b e r 17, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h SANTANA

and DELEON a n d d i s c u s s e d t r a v e l p l a n s . would not f i n i s h

DELEON s a i d t h a t he

s c h o o l a n d s a i d t h a t he was g o i n g t o w i t h d r a w

h i s t u i t i o n money t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y , a p o r t i o n o f w h i c h he w o u l d use t o f u n d h i s t r i p . was DELEON s a i d t h e l a t e s t t h e y w o u l d l e a v e SANTANA s a i d he was r e a d y f o r

t h e b e g i n n i n g o f November.

the t r i p t o o .

43

67. and had

On S e p t e m b e r 18, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA, a n d t h e CS met their travel plans. DELEON t o l d night. t h e CS t h a t he DELEON told

discussed

c o m m u n i c a t e d w i t h KABIR t h e p r e v i o u s

KABIR t h a t t h e y m i g h t a r r i v e i n K a b u l s o o n e r t h a n p l a n n e d and s a i d t h a t KABIR w e l c o m e d t h e news. the following possible travel route:

originally suggested

KABIR

f r o m M e x i c o t o Germany, t o

the United Arab Emirates, a. DELEON t o l d

and then t o A f g h a n i s t a n . SANTANA a n d t h e CS t h a t he p l a n n e d t o on t h e " a d a b " o f t h e m u j a h i d e e n .

t a l k w i t h an imam t o g e t a d v i c e DELEON t o l d

them he w a n t e d t o l e a r n how he c a n a c t l i k e a n d plan to join.

i n t e g r a t e himself with the Muslim f i g h t e r s they DELEON i d e n t i f i e d t h e imam o f t h e i r b. t h e imam and t o l d

t h e men he p l a n n e d t o a d v i s e

i n t e n t t o go o v e r s e a s t o f i g h t . t h e men t h e y needed t o s t a r t overseas.

DELEON f u r t h e r t o l d

h i k i n g t o get used t o t h e t e r r a i n

they would encounter a s he f e l t

DELEON commented on h i s i n t e n t t o s k y d i v e would a s s i s t c. tuition him i n understanding DELEON t o l d

that i t

how h i s b o d y r e a c t s t o f e a r . receive h i s

t h e men t h a t he s h o u l d days.

reimbursement i n f i v e business

DELEON s a i d t h a t , paintball

when he r e c e i v e d t h e money, he w a n t e d t o go b a c k t o a facility training violent

t h a t he p a t r o n i z e d r e c e n t l y a s i t w o u l d be good f o r "umrah" j ihad) . 44 (identified a b o v e a s a code w o r d f o r

d.

Outside

o f DELEON's p r e s e n c e , SANTANA t o l d t h e CS SANTANA t h a t he w a n t e d t o j o i n t h a t i f he SANTANA

that h i sbrother the United

recently told

States m i l i t a r y .

SANTANA t o l d h i s b r o t h e r SANTANA w o u l d k i l l him.

saw h i m on t h e b a t t l e f i e l d ,

s a i d t h a t he t o l d h i s b r o t h e r 68.

t o j o i n the mujahideen i n s t e a d .

On T h u r s d a y , S e p t e m b e r 20, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h Their conversation included the following: KABIR. t o t h e gym

SANTANA a n d DELEON. a. KABIR i n f o r m e d

SANTANA t o l d t h e CS he " S k y p e d " w i t h

SANTANA t h a t he (KABIR) h a d b e e n g o i n g According

as p a r t o f h i s p r e p a r a t i o n s . discussed neighbor. busy. this a recent

t o SANTANA, KABIR a l s o

s u i c i d e b o m b i n g b y a f e m a l e , who was KABIR's SANTANA t h a t h i s " c o n n e c t i o n " i s really

KABIR t o l d

( B a s e d on my t r a i n i n g a n d e x p e r i e n c e

and t h e c o n t e x t o f

s t a t e m e n t , KABIR a p p e a r e d t o be r e f e r r i n g t o t h e s h e i k h o r with him during the above-described The CS a n d SANTANA go. According Skype

imam who was p r e s e n t conversation where t h e y

on A u g u s t 8, 2012.)

discussed

w o u l d s t a y when t h e y

t o SANTANA, KABIR

said the brothers masjid."

w o u l d l e t them s t a y a t " t h e i r h o u s e s o r t h e

SANTANA s a i d he d i s c u s s e d m a r r i a g e w i t h KABIR a n d t h a t t o get married b e c a u s e he

KABIR s a i d he (KABIR) was n o t g o i n g has different b. was s t i l l intentions.

SANTANA s a i d KABIR t o l d h i m t h a t h i s m a i n g o a l SANTANA s a i d t h a t Yemen was g o o d b e c a u s e " t h e y 45

Yemen.

a c t u a l l y take over t h e c i t i e s s a i d t h a t he q u e s t i o n e d

and enforce

s h a r i a l a w . " SANTANA

KABIR a b o u t f i g h t i n g a g a i n s t Yemeni Muslims" side. n e e d e d t o be The CS a s k e d why

t r i b e s a n d t h a t KABIR s a i d t h a t " t h o s e taken

o u t b e c a u s e t h e y w e r e n o t on t h e i r

t h e y w o u l d go t o A f g h a n i s t a n i f KABIR was g o i n g t o go t o Yemen. SANTANA s a i d t h e y w o u l d n o t have t o s t a y i n one l o c a t i o n a n d t h a t "AQ" was t h e r e . first According t o SANTANA, KABIR s a i d that

t h e y w o u l d go t o a camp a n d meet t h e " c o n n e c t i o n s " a n d want."

t h e n c o u l d go do "umrah w h e r e v e r t h e y

DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A SECOND TIME 69. L a t e r o n S e p t e m b e r 20, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA a n d t h e T h i s was t h e i r s e c o n d they discussed the such

CS t r a v e l e d t o a s h o o t i n g r a n g e . trip. While

on t h e way t o t h e r a n g e ,

following: a. Mexico. The CS d i s c u s s e d t r a v e l documents needed t o e n t e r from

DELEON s a i d t h a t he a l r e a d y l o o k e d i n t o t r a v e l

Mexico t o Dubai t o A f g h a n i s t a n and t h e a s s o c i a t e d c o s t s . b. letter leaving DELEON s a i d t h a t he was g o i n g t o l e a v e h i s d a d a SANTANA t o l d DELEON a b o u t t h e CS

a n d mom a l e t t e r . a letter

f o rh i s wives.

DELEON s a i d t h e CS c o u l d n o t do down

t h a t u n l e s s t h e CS knew t h a t h i s w i v e s were "100 p e r c e n t w i t h the cause." The CS a s k e d

i f he c o u l d l i e i n t h e l e t t e r .

46

DELEON r e p l i e d y o u c a n l i e when y o u a r e i n war a n d , " I b e l i e v e r i g h t now . . . c. we a r e i n a s t a t e o f w a r . " DELEON s a i d he a l r e a d y h a d t h e e x p e n s e s figured

out f o r t h e i r t r i p . $3,000, d e p e n d i n g t o $500.

DELEON s a i d M e x i c o t o D u b a i was $1,300 t o From D u b a i t o K a b u l was $220 f o r 3-5 p e o p l e

on t h e a i r l i n e .

DELEON e s t i m a t e d m i s c e l l a n e o u s e x p e n s e s

a n d $10 p e r d a y f o r f o o d c a l c u l a t e d t h e t o t a l p e r - p e r s o n c o s t as $2200 t o $2500. d. Upon a r r i v i n g a t t h e s h o o t i n g r a n g e , SANTANA and t o use. After shooting

DELEON s e l e c t e d two a s s a u l t - s t y l e r i f l e s t h e weapons, DELEON r e m a r k e d

t h a t he s h o u l d h a v e b e e n p r e p a r i n g

t o go t o A f g h a n i s t a n f i v e y e a r s a g o . 70. While d r i v i n g f r o m t h e s h o o t i n g r a n g e , t h e CS a s k e d

SANTANA a n d DELEON a b o u t t h e i r c o n v e r s i o n t o I s l a m . a. you . . . The CS a s k e d "what t e c h n i q u e s t h a t S o h i e l u s e d on a M u s l i m and l e a v e a l l , you

t o g e t y o u a n d t o become

know, become

leave a l lt h i s a future,

. . . n o t y e t become

j u s t a Muslim, t o DELEON said

y a know, o r p o t e n t i a l m u j a h i d . "

t h a t when he met KABIR, a l l KABIR t a l k e d a b o u t was t h e t r u t h a n d religion. DELEON s a i d KABIR was " b a s i c a l l y a mujahid walking And He

t h e s t r e e t s o f LA.

He was j u s t w a i t i n g t o g e t h i s p a p e r s .

I met h i m a t t h e p o i n t o f h i s l i f e was a l r e a d y a m u j a h i d e e n

w h e r e he was a b o u t t o go. DELEON s a i d that

w a l k i n g around." 47

meeting

KABIR was l i k e m e e t i n g

somebody f r o m A l - A w l a q i o r B i n SANTANA s a i d t h a t he a n d "came o u t h e r e

L a d e n ' s camp who was " w a l k i n g i n L A . " s w o r e KABIR h a d b e e n a m u j a h i d t o r e c r u i t b r o t h e r s and l e f t . " i n v i t e e v e r y o n e who a c c e p t e d

h i s whole l i f e

DELEON s a i d t h a t KABIR d i d n o t ( a p p e a r i n g t o r e f e r t o KABIR's

dawa

i n v i t a t i o n t o DELEON a n d SANTANA t o j o i n h i m i n j i h a d ) . b. SANTANA s a i d t h a t , growing up, he was e a s i l y group

i n f l u e n c e d by people, and

t h a t he w a n t e d t o f i t i n t o a c e r t a i n a n d t h a t was why he was

t o f i g h t f o r the r i g h t reason,

around gangs. then it "accepted

SANTANA s a i d t h a t he w o u l d h e a r Islam without

KABIR t a l k a n d

knowing a n y t h i n g about i t b e s i d e s ( I s l a m ) was

being the t r u t h . "

SANTANA s a i d he b e l i e v e d t h i s

where he was g o i n g t o be a b l e t o " f i t i n a n d a c t u a l l y be a b l e t o fight life, f o r something he a l w a y s c. jihad at f i r s t overseas. of view to. that's right." SANTANA s a i d t h a t i n h i s o l d

looked f o r v i o l e n c e . DELEON s a i d KABIR d i d n o t s p e a k t o h i m a b o u t b u t t h e n t o l d DELEON a b o u t h i s d e s i r e t o go

KABIR s t a r t e d t a l k i n g a b o u t A l - A w l a q i a n d h i s p o i n t he w o u l d listen

a n d how A l - A w l a q i was t h e o n l y p e r s o n

When KABIR s a i d t h a t he was g o i n g t o l e a v e , DELEON t o l d KABIR was g o i n g t o w a i t f o r l e f t without saying

KABIR he was g o i n g t o go w i t h h i m .

DELEON t o g e t h i s c i t i z e n s h i p , b u t t h e n

48

anything. anymore."

DELEON s a i d he (DELEON) i s " n o t w a i t i n g f o r a n y t h i n g

d.

SANTANA s a i d DELEON met KABIR f i r s t

and t h a t After an audio

SANTANA was i n t r o d u c e d t o KABIR b y a m u t u a l f r i e n d . talking,

s m o k i n g , a n d l i s t e n i n g t o m u s i c , KABIR p l a y e d

recording of Al-Awlaqi and

l e c t u r e s e n t i t l e d "The J o u r n e y o f S o u l " SANTANA said

" F a c e s o f t h e G r a v e - The Day o f J u d g m e n t . "

t h a t i t " s h o o k h i m . " SANTANA s a i d he r e a l i z e d t h r o u g h KABIR t h a t h i s i d e a o f j o i n i n g t h e U.S. m i l i t a r y was wrong. s a i d he came t o I s l a m t h r o u g h f i s a b i l i l l a h . t h a t w i t h KABIR, " e v e r y t h i n g it. " e. using t h i s home. had to The CS a s k e d SANTANA a n d DELEON i f t h e y were looks SANTANA SANTANA explained

s o g o o d t h e way he e x p l a i n s

(jihad f i s a b i l i l l a h )

a s an e s c a p e f r o m p r o b l e m s a t SANTANA s a i d t h a t he

DELEON s a i d i t was n o t an e s c a p e . here t o stand

nothing

f o r a n d s o t h i s was a r e a s o n f o r h i m DELEON s a i d he was c o m f o r t a b l e before lead

leave t h i n g s behind.

he became a M u s l i m a n d t h a t h i s t e m p o r a r y p l e a s u r e s to h e l l and fire. SANTANA s a i d t h a t i t i s b e s t

would

i f he makes h i j r a h i t was

abandons e v e r y t h i n g here,

a d d i n g t h a t he f e l t

p o i n t l e s s t o keep a n d h o l d on t o what he h a s h e r e . 71. it On S e p t e m b e r 20, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS a s k e d SANTANA a b o u t how an " A m e r i c a n , B r i t i s h , 49 Jew, ok, a wack

would f e e l t o take

M u s l i m , ok, j u s t aim, and t a k e him o u t ? " no problem before taking a l i f e ,

SANTANA s a i d he "had

I d o n ' t know why I w o u l d have a i t was j u s t l i k e . . . ." a game t o me. SANTANA added . . . i f their

p r o b l e m now. It's

B e f o r e i t was l i k e

e i t h e r you e i t h e r k i l l

o r be k i l l e d

t h a t he h a d no " p r o b l e m s e n d i n g a s o u l t o i t s c r e a t o r . t h e y choose t o d i s b e l i e v e and f i g h t a g a i n s t , decision . . . . Someone h a s t o do i t . "

then that's

The CS a s k e d SANTANA SANTANA

what i f an A m e r i c a n s o l d i e r h a d a w i f e affirmed

and k i d s .

i t w o u l d n o t m a t t e r a n d t h a t he w o u l d n o t h e s i t a t e . picture of fighting i n jihad, The CS a s k e d

When d e s c r i b i n g h i s p e r s o n a l

SANTANA s a i d " I t ' s gonna f e e l good, i n s h a ' A l l a h . "

SANTANA what i f , i n t h e moment, a s o l d i e r l a i d down h i s gun a n d wanted t o l e a v e the b a t t l e f i e l d a n d go home. SANTANA s a i d i t

d e p e n d e d on what t h e s h a r i a s a y s . soldier) would need t o a c c e p t I s l a m

He t h e n s a i d t h a t he ( t h e o r a c c e p t t h e sword.

SANTANA w o u l d t e l l and

t h e s o l d i e r t o p i c k up h i s weapon a n d f i g h t alive."

" E i t h e r me o r y o u a r e gonna w a l k o u t o f h e r e

DEFENDANTS GO TO A PAINTBALL FACILITY 72. On S a t u r d a y , S e p t e m b e r 23, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA, went t o a p a i n t b a l l f a c i l i t y i n was t h e s e c o n d p a i n t b a l l t r i p f o r The CS reported that

G O J A L I , t h e CS, a n d o t h e r s Corona, C a l i f o r n i a . DELEON a n d t h e f i r s t that This

f o r SANTANA a n d t h e CS.

SANTANA a n d DELEON s e l e c t e d and r e n t e d 50

p a i n t b a l l guns

resembled a s s a u l t

rifles.

SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he c h o s e g e t used t o t h e weight.

t h a t t y p e o f weapon s o t h a t he c o u l d DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t h i s n i y y a h I s l a m i c concept of intending the day s h o u l d

( A r a b i c word r e f e r r i n g t o t h e

t o do an a c t f o r t h e s a k e God) f o r w h i c h t h e CS u n d e r s t o o d t o mean that

be p r e p a r a t i o n ,

preparation

forjihad.

D u r i n g a b r e a k , t h e CS commented back and w a i t i n g w h i l e

x x

o p p o s i n g teams were h o l d i n g rushing. (appearing operation). 73. DELEON. a. According

t h e y were

I n r e s p o n s e , GOJALI s a i d

[ T ] r y i n g t o get shaheed" v i a a martyrdom

t o r e f e r t o heavenly rewards obtained

On S e p t e m b e r 24, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h

SANTANA a n d

t o t h e CS, o u t s i d e

o f DELEON's

p r e s e n c e , SANTANA s a i d t h a t he h a d r e s e a r c h e d ways t o t r a v e l overseas without arousing style c l o t h i n g ; being suspicion, i n c l u d i n g wearing and c l o s e l y shaven; Western-

clean-cut

carrying nothing

s p o r t s m a g a z i n e s and n i c e c o l o g n e i n l u g g a g e ; and h a v i n g on t h e i r person or i n t h e i r l u g g a g e i d e n t i f y i n g them a s a

Muslim. b. DELEON j o i n e d SANTANA a n d t h e CS a n d t o l d them card. to that

t h a t he h a d a s k e d h i s f a t h e r f o r h i s p a s s p o r t a n d g r e e n DELEON s a i d he t o l d h i s f a t h e r t h a t he h a d an o p p o r t u n i t y take part i n a s t u d e n t exchange program. 51 DELEON l e a r n e d

his to

p a s s p o r t had e x p i r e d and l a t e r

a s k e d t h e CS t o accompany h i m t o renew i t . recently

t h e P h i l i p p i n e s Consulate i n Los Angeles c.

DELEON a n d SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t t h e y

d e l e t e d e v e r y t h i n g a s s o c i a t e d w i t h I s l a m from t h e i r pages. reflect A c c o r d i n g t o t h e CS, t h e y a l s o c h a n g e d t h e i r their g i v e n names.

Facebook names t o t o keep

They s a i d t h e y h a d done t h i s trip overseas.

a low p r o f i l e

i n anticipation of their

( I n v e s t i g a t o r s h a v e r e v i e w e d t h e F a c e b o o k p a g e s o f DELEON a n d SANTANA a n d o b s e r v e d that, a l t h o u g h SANTANA's F a c e b o o k page I s l a m i s t c o n t e n t and Muslim a t t i r e , the

formerly included postings of radical p i c t u r e s o f SANTANA i n w e a r i n g

traditional

page h a d b e e n a l t e r e d t o d e l e t e a l l r e f e r e n c e s t o I s l a m a n d t o d i s p l a y a p i c t u r e o f SANTANA p o s i n g w i t h f a m i l y members w h i l e wearing w e s t e r n - s t y l e c l o t h i n g . I n v e s t i g a t o r s observed that

DELEON's F a c e b o o k page h a d b e e n a l t e r e d t o remove p o s t i n g s o f radical I s l a m i c c o n t e n t and t o r e f l e c t h i s g i v e n name r a t h e r

than h i s former d.

v a n i t y names " r a f i q a b d u l r a h e e m " a n d "Ya Seen.") DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he a n d SANTANA h a d travel. They p l a n n e d t o t e l l

devised a cover s t o r y

f o rtheir

p e o p l e t h e y were g o i n g t o Dubai import/export business. cologne

t o work i n t h e c o l o g n e selling that

SANTANA h a d p r e v i o u s e x p e r i e n c e

a n d DELEON h a d s t u d i e d m a r k e t i n g .

DELEON s u g g e s t e d

52

t h e y wear s u i t s a n d t i e s when t h e y t r a v e l . c o u l d p l a y t h e r o l e o f an i n v e s t o r i n t h e i r DELEON RECRUITS GOJALI TO JOIN THE PLOT 74.

They t o l d t h e CS he business.

On S e p t e m b e r 3 0 , 2012, DELEON t e l e p h o n e d

t h e CS a n d

a d v i s e d t h a t t h e CS n e e d e d t o p i c k up GOJALI a n d t h e y a l l w o u l d go t o t h e "swap meet." The CS p i c k e d up G O J A L I . On t h e d r i v e

t o meet DELEON a n d SANTANA, GOJALI s a i d t h a t he h a d b e e n informed o f t h e i r t r i p them. a n d i n d i c a t e d t h a t he i n t e n d e d t o go w i t h

GOJALI s a i d he was aware o f t h e c o d e w o r d s , s u c h a s "swap The CS t o l d GOJALI and asked they

meet," " s t u d e n t s , " and " p r o f e s s o r s . " w e r e g o i n g t o war a n d t o k i l l have i t i n you, f i g h t i n g replied, people

GOJALI "do y o u GOJALI

for fisabilallah,

killing?"

"Yeah, o f c o u r s e . "

GOJALI e x p l a i n e d t o t h e CS " y o u

know I w a t c h v i d e o s on t h e I n t e r n e t a n d I s e e what t h e y a r e doing t o our b r o t h e r s and s i s t e r s , c r y and i t gets l i k e , it I'm l i k e Walahi man, l i k e i t makes me

so angered

w i t h them y o u know a n d

g e t s me e v e n more mad t h a t I'm h e r e

y o u know, we a r e p a y i n g arms a n d weapons t o go

what t a x e s f o r them s o t h e y c a n b u i l d train their s o l d i e r s a n d go t h r o u g h y o u know."

o u r c o u n t r y a n d do t h a t t o

our b r o t h e r s and s i s t e r s 75.

The CS a n d GOJALI a r r i v e d a n d met w i t h SANTANA a n d i n a Skype

DELEON a t an a p a r t m e n t a n d a l l f o u r men p a r t i c i p a t e d

53

video c a l l

w i t h KABIR, w h i c h was r e c o r d e d .

During the c a l l , the

f o l l o w i n g exchanges o c c u r r e d : a. t h a t t h e group November. After general greetings, DELEON i n f o r m e d KABIR

i n t e n d e d t o t r a v e l t o A f g h a n i s t a n i n earlyt h a t t h e r e were f o r them b e c a u s e t h e y were

KABIR i n f o r m e d t h e g r o u p

c o m p l i c a t i o n s i n making arrangements coming from t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s .

KABIR s a i d t h a t he w o u l d

c o n t i n u e t o work on m a k i n g o t h e r c o n n e c t i o n s f o r t h e g r o u p . Later during thec a l l , DELEON i n f o r m e d KABIR t h a t G O J A L I , who had j o i n e d t h e group. KABIR said

was p r e s e n t d u r i n g t h e c a l l , t h a t was " g o o d t o h e a r . " b. fitness

KABIR t h e n t o l d t h e men t o work o n t h e i r facial hair.

physical DELEON

a n d s u g g e s t e d t h e y grow o u t t h e i r and thought

s a i d t h a t he h a d j u s t s h a v e d clean-shaven so i t would

i t w o u l d b e s a f e r t o be

n o t appear

t h a t they a r e "sunnah"

( A r a b i c w o r d r e f e r r i n g t o f o l l o w e r s i n t h e p a t h o f Muhammad). DELEON a l s o t o l d KABIR t h a t he p l a n n e d t o s e l l (presumably t o r a i s e money f o r t h e t r i p ) . his car

DEFENDANTS GO TO A SHOOTING RANGE A THIRD TIME 76. A f t e r t h e Skype c a l l , SANTANA, DELEON, G O J A L I , a n d t h e i nLos Angeles. W h i l e en r o u t e ,

CS t r a v e l e d t o a s h o o t i n g r a n g e

DELEON c o n f i r m e d t h e i r p l a n n e d d a t e t o d e p a r t was November 15,

54

2012.

GOJALI t o l d t h e men he n e e d e d t o g e t a U.S. p a s s p o r t a n d a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r GOJALI t o do s o .

he a n d DELEON d i s c u s s e d 77.

A t t h e gun r a n g e , SANTANA a n d DELEON s e l e c t e d a n AKand an M16-styTe r i f l e turns firing t o s h o o t a n d t h e f o u r men The men t h e n

47-styTe r i f l e

proceeded t o take departed

t h e weapons.

t h e range and drove t o d i n n e r .

DELEON e x p l a i n e d t o

GOJALI t h a t he was t h e e m i r o f t h e g r o u p a n d t h a t KABIR w o u l d become t h e i r e m i r o n c e t h e y j o i n e d him.

DEFENDANTS PREPARE FOR THEIR DEPARTURE 78. and On O c t o b e r 3, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, SANTANA, a n d t h e CS met t h e i r travel plans. DELEON t o l d t h e CS he h a d working

discussed

e x c h a n g e d m e s s a g e s w i t h KABIR a n d t h a t KABIR was s t i l l to establish their connection

t o a j i h a d i group i n A f g h a n i s t a n . connections i n Afghanistan d i d and cross into

KABIR t o l d DELEON t h a t i f t h e i r not m a t e r i a l i z e ,

t h e y w o u l d meet i n S a u d i DELEON s a i d

Arabia

Yemen t o j o i n A l - Q a ' i d a . Afghanistan 79. and t h e i r

t h e i r primary

p l a n was

s e c o n d a r y p l a n was Yemen.

On O c t o b e r 8, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON t o l d t h e CS a b o u t a r e c e n t he h a d w i t h KABIR. tickets DELEON s a i d that KABIR

on-line conversation

t o l d them t o n o t b u y t h e i r p l a n e

y e t b e c a u s e he was DELEON

w o r k i n g w i t h one o f h i s c o n n e c t i o n s said

a n d h a d g o o d news.

t h a t KABIR was w a i t i n g on t h a t c o n n e c t i o n thepreferred t r a v e l

t o provide DELEON t o l d

directions regarding

route.

t h e CS t h a t GOJALI was s t i l l

i n on t h e p l a n .

The CS a s k e d

DELEON a b o u t G O J A L I ' s a n d SANTANA's f i n a n c i n g o f t h e t r i p . DELEON s a i d t h a t GOJALI p l a n n e d t o r e c e i v e some u n p a i d from a p r e v i o u s j o b a n d t h a t DELEON was g o i n g to talk wages with

SANTANA a b o u t g e t t i n g a j o b . 80. recorded On O c t o b e r 9, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON s p o k e t o KABIR i n a conversation, w h i c h I have r e v i e w e d . During the f o r "bugs," t h a t he a l r e a d y DELEON t h a t

conversation, (meaning a u d i o had done s o .

KABIR t o l d DELEON t o c h e c k t h e a r e a listening d e v i c e ) ; DELEON a d v i s e d

Later i n the conversation,

KABIR t o l d

he was " t a l k i n g t o t h e h e a d s leaders) 81. t o see i f they w i l l

(possibly referring to terrorist take a l l ofus."

On O c t o b e r 10, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON, G O J A L I , a n d t h e CS met. w a i t i n g f o r h i s unpaid wages; DELEON GOJALI

GOJALI t o l d t h e CS he was s t i l l

DELEON e n c o u r a g e d GOJALI t o f o l l o w up on t h e m a t t e r . s a i d t h e r e was a j o b o f f e r

f o r b o t h GOJALI a n d SANTANA.

s a i d he was i n t e r e s t e d i n t h e j o b a s i t w o u l d p r o v i d e money f o r t h e i r t r i p .

needed

DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he h a d a r e c e n t KABIR t o l d DELEON t h a t o n c e they

S k y p e s e s s i o n w i t h KABIR. arrived finding to i n Afghanistan, a place t o stay.

t h e y w o u l d n o t have t o w o r r y

about

DELEON a d d e d t h a t KABIR was c o n t i n u i n g DELEON s a i d t h a t KABIR Arabia discussed

prepare f o r f i s a b i l i l l a h .

t h e p o t e n t i a l o f t h e men m e e t i n g i n S a u d i

f o r umrah

(understood and

h e r e t o r e f e r t o a r e l i g i o u s p i l g r i m a g e t o Mecca) s h o u l d go a f t e r H a j j a n d t h e n continue on t o

t h a t they

Afghanistan.

KABIR a l s o a s k e d DELEON t o h a v e t h e CS s e n d money When t h e CS a s k e d DELEON t o c l a r i f y what he

f o r "the orphans."

meant, DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t t h e money was f o r t h e s t u d e n t o r p h a n s , w h i c h t h e CS u n d e r s t o o d t o mean m u j a h i d e e n fighters.

(As d e s c r i b e d a b o v e , KABIR, DELEON, a n d SANTANA have p r e v i o u s l y u s e d t h e code word " s t u d e n t s " t o r e f e r t o t h e T a l i b a n . ) 82. On O c t o b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met DELEON i n C h i n o , a n d t h e two d i s c u s s e d a S k y p e c o n v e r s a t i o n b e t w e e n According to

California,

DELEON, SANTANA, a n d KABIR on O c t o b e r 1 1 , 2 0 1 2 .

DELEON, KABIR t o l d DELEON t h a t m e e t i n g i n S a u d i A r a b i a was no l o n g e r an o p t i o n ; KABIR h a d l e a r n e d t h e r e were no v i s a s i s s u e d by t h e Saudi g o v e r n m e n t due t o t h e H a j j . KABIR being suggested

t h a t SANTANA, G O J A L I , a n d t h e CS c o u l d t r a v e l t o A f g h a n i s t a n any time a f t e r O c t o b e r 2 5 , 2 0 1 2 , a n d t h a t DELEON c o u l d t h e n h i s passport on November 8, 2 0 1 2 . join KABIR

them a f t e r r e c e i v i n g told pan

DELEON t h a t h i s c o n n e c t i o n out.

i n Afghanistan

was c o n t i n u i n g t o

DELEON t o l d t h e CS i t was a good i d e a t o s e n d money t o they t r a v e l i n order t o i n g r a t i a t e themselves DELEON a d d e d t h a t he p l a n n e d to sell with

KABIR b e f o r e

the mujahideen.

t o s e n d some o f

h i s own money a n d i n t e n d e d p r o c e e d s t o KABIR.

h i s c a r a n d p a s s some o f t h e

57

83.

I have r e v i e w e d a r e c o r d i n g o f a n O c t o b e r 1 1 , 2012, about t r a v e l p l a n s b e t w e e n DELEON, SANTANA, and DELEON s a i d "As s o o n a s I g e t i t KABIR replied send

conversation KABIR.

Regarding h i s passport,

[referring

t o t h e p a s s p o r t ] , t h a t ' s i t man."

"Insha'Allah." Miguel

KABIR l a t e r a s k e d "Why d o n ' t y o u g u y s

[SANTANA] a h e a d o f t i m e ? " early.

SANTANA a g r e e d a n d a d v i s e d he

w o u l d be w i l l i n g t o l e a v e 84. On O c t o b e r

17, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met SANTANA a n d t h e two SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he h a d b e e n i n

d r o v e t o meet DELEON. contact to

w i t h KABIR a n d t h a t KABIR was j u s t w a i t i n g f o r t h e g r o u p SANTANA a n d t h e CS p i c k e d up DELEON a n d t h e t h r e e Afterward, the three discussed their h i s carto GOJALI's

arrive.

went t o g e t d i n n e r . upcoming t r i p .

DELEON s a i d trip.

t h a t he p l a n n e d t o s e l l When SANTANA a s k e d a b o u t

g e t money f o r t h e i r passport,

DELEON s a i d

t h a t he a n d GOJALI p l a n n e d t o go t o t h e and t h a t

p o s t o f f i c e t h e f o l l o w i n g week t o g e t G O J A L I ' s p a s s p o r t t h e y would pay e x t r a t o e x p e d i t e would the i t .

DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he

s e n d money f r o m t h e CS and some o f h i s own money t o KABIR

f o l l o w i n g week. 85. I reviewed a recording of a conversation about travel

p l a n s b e t w e e n KABIR a n d DELEON o n O c t o b e r 17, 2 0 1 2 . p r e v i o u s l y discussed meeting i n a t h i r d country together to Afghanistan.

The men h a d

and t r a v e l i n g

KABIR t o l d DELEON "Don't meet up i n 58

England,

man. like

That's the worst four people

p l a c e t o be. . . . t h e y

just

extradited

o u t o f U.K. t o t h e U.S."

Later i n

t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n , DELEON s a i d " I t h i n k t h e b e s t t h i n g i s urn we go t o D u b a i , then f r o m D u b a i we go t o K a b u l . You p i c k us up. f o r the

Then f r o m t h e r e we f o l l o w y o u . group u n t i l replied, "caravan" we a c t u a l l y

W e ' l l g i v e you t h e emir y a know?"

f i n d the caravan,

KABIR

"Yeah.

I n s h a ' A l l a h . " (DELEON's u s e o f t h e w o r d group.)

appeared t o r e f e r t o j o i n i n g a t e r r o r i s t

DELEON t o l d KABIR t h a t t h e g r o u p p l a n n e d States v i aMexico. round t r i p tickets 86.

to leave the United

KABIR a d v i s e d DELEON t h e y n e e d e d t o p u r c h a s e their

t i c k e t s a n d t o l d DELEON t h e y n e e d e d t o r e s e r v e

now. On O c t o b e r 17, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON l i s t e d Craigslist. The l i s t i n g h i s c a r f o r s a l e on "Getting

the website rid

i n c l u d e d t h e note (A.S.A.P)

o f i t b e c a u s e I'm l e a v i n g t h e c o u n t r y The a d l i s t e d

Need money

fast." During

(XXX) XXX-2068 a s a c o n t a c t phone number. 16, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON p r o v i d e d t h e CS The

a m e e t i n g on F e b r u a r y

t h e same t e l e p h o n e same t e l e p h o n e

number a s h i s (DELEON's) c o n t a c t number.

number was a l s o f o u n d

b y CBP on a p i e c e o f p a p e r

i n SANTANA's p o s s e s s i o n when he e n t e r e d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s on January 87. 13, 2 0 1 2 . I reviewed a r e c o r d i n g o f a c o n v e r s a t i o n about travel told

p l a n s b e t w e e n KABIR a n d SANTANA on O c t o b e r 20, 2 0 1 2 . 59

KABIR

SANTANA t h a t t h e men n e e d e d t o o b t a i n t h e i r v i s a s and t h a t he (KABIR) met a p e r s o n who h a s " c o n n e c t s " t o "AQ" i n P a k i s t a n . When SANTANA a d v i s e d plans, h i m t o n o t speak so o p e n l y about their

KABIR s a i d t h e y were j u s t t a l k i n g

about t h e "orphans."

KABIR t o l d SANTANA he w i l l 88.

know i n a week what t h e p l a n w i l l b e . of a conversation between

I reviewed a recording

DELEON a n d KABIR on O c t o b e r 22, 2 0 1 2 , i n w h i c h t h e two men discussed told m e e t i n g i n Dubai and s n e a k i n g into Afghanistan. them do t h a t KABIR "yet."

DELEON he d i d n o t h a v e c o n t a c t s 89.

t o help

On O c t o b e r 27, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS t o l d a g e n t s t h a t

DELEON

s a i d t h a t he s e n t money t o KABIR v i a W e s t e r n U n i o n . Union r e c o r d s ,

Western wired

w h i c h I h a v e r e v i e w e d , show t h a t DELEON California, t o KABIR i n K a b u l ,

$200 f r o m O n t a r i o , 90. GOJALI. convinced continue

Afghanistan.

On O c t o b e r 3 1 , 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h D u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g , GOJALI s a i d t h a t h i m i t was f i t n a

DELEON a n d DELEON h a d

(Arabic f o r s i n or temptation) t o GOJALI s a i d t h a t , i n h i s heart with

t o l i v e with h i s g i r l f r i e n d . forfisabilillah,

preparation iman

he w a n t e d t o f i l l

(Arabic f o r f a i t h ) . living

GOJALI s a i d he moved o u t and i s no DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t DELEON a l s o said

longer

with h i s g i r l f r i e n d .

KABIR h a d r e c e i v e d t h e money DELEON s e n t .

KABIR h a d a h o u s e i n K a b u l f o r t h e men a n d h a d s o l i d i f i e d h i s (KABIR's) c o n n e c t i o n . DELEON a n d GOJALI d i s c u s s e d obtaining

60

t h e i r passports, States passport

i n c l u d i n g t h e need t o o b t a i n GOJALI's

United

from t h e f e d e r a l b u i l d i n g i n Los Angeles.

DELEON a l s o t o l d t h e CS t h a t an a s s o c i a t e who r e c e n t l y t r a v e l e d f r o m L o s A n g e l e s t o P a k i s t a n w o u l d s e n d them w e d d i n g t o use as a c o v e r 91. recorded on fortheir travels. invitations

On November 1, 2 0 1 2 , DELEON s p o k e w i t h KABIR i n a conversation. KABIR i n f o r m e d DELEON t h a t he was care going

a " m i s s i o n " a n d t h a t he h a d a l r e a d y t a k e n including arranging

of everything

f o r them t o a r r i v e , will and

f o r an a s s o c i a t e who I g o t , I got t h e pad, concern that KABIR KABIR

be " w a i t i n g f o r y o u g u y s a l r e a d y . everything ready." DELEON e x p r e s s e d

intended he

t o leave before

t h e group a r r i v e d .

DELEON t o l d

was j u s t w a i t i n g f o r h i s p a s s p o r t

t o come on November 8 t h .

KABIR a s s u r e d

DELEON t h a t t h e men he (KABIR) was s u p p o s e d t o "know e v e r y t h i n g , they know y o u guys that there

meet w i t h f o r t h e m i s s i o n are are

c o m i n g down, a n d e v e r y t h i n g . " f o u r men t r a v e l i n g t o Kabul

KABIR c o n f i r m e d

(DELEON, SANTANA, G O J A L I , and should buy t h e i r

the CS). tickets three

When KABIR t o l d

DELEON t h a t t h e y

"now," DELEON r e s p o n d e d t h a t he w o u l d i n t h e n e x t two t o

days. 92. On November 2, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h DELEON, SANTANA, During t h e m e e t i n g , w h i c h was DELEON

and

GOJALI i n C h i n o , C a l i f o r n i a .

recorded,

DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t he s p o k e t o - K A B I R . 61

r e l a y e d t h a t KABIR h a d e s t a b l i s h e d a r e s i d e n c e men o n c e t h e y arrive.

i n Kabul f o r the t o go on

DELEON s a i d t h a t KABIR was g o i n g by h i s c o n n e c t i o n a n d KABIR

a "mission" arranged contact

provided

i n f o r m a t i o n f o r an a s s o c i a t e

( i n Kabul) i n t h e event

t h a t KABIR d i d n o t r e t u r n f r o m t h e m i s s i o n . 93. recorded On November 2, 2012, KABIR s p o k e w i t h DELEON i n a conversation. KABIR t o l d DELEON he d i d n o t go on t h e r e f e r r i n g t o DELEON's During t h e

m i s s i o n because o f "you guys" e a r l i e r p l e a t o KABIR t o w a i t conversation, DELEON t o l d

(likely

f o r them).

KABIR:

Ok, c h e c k t h i s o u t . E v e r y t h i n g i s s e t . We a l r e a d y made shura and e v e r y t h i n g i s s e t . We a r e g e t t i n g o u r t i c k e t s i n s h a h a l l a h t h i s week a n d e v e r y t h i n g i s good. We h a v e no p r o b l e m g e t t i n g i n t o D u b a i , t h a t ' s i t . And t o g e t i n t o AF-G, we a l r e a d y f i g u r e d o u t t h e p e r f e c t s t o r y . DELEON t h e n d i s c u s s e d how t h e men w o u l d u s e t h e c o v e r are t r a v e l i n g t o Afghanistan i n Kabul. KABIR t o l d story they

t o a t t e n d KABIR's f i c t i o n a l

wedding

DELEON t h a t upon t h e i r a r r i v a l ,

t h e men

c o u l d have t o w a i t me [KABIR] l i k e

i n K a b u l f o r s e v e r a l months a n d t h a t " i t t o o k me" KABIR

two m o n t h s , man, f o r them t o e v e n t a k e accepted by a j i h a d i

(appearing told

t o r e f e r t o being

group).

DELEON t h a t he r e c e n t l y i d e n t i f i e d

an i n d i v i d u a l i n

Afghanistan

who w o r k s w i t h t h e g o v e r n m e n t i n D u b a i who m i g h t be them w i t h o b t a i n i n g v i s a s . KABIR i n s t r u c t e d KABIR a l s o asked

able t o a s s i s t

DELEON t o h a v e e v e r y o n e p a c k w i n t e r a t t i r e . 62

DELEON t o r e t r i e v e KABIR's " m i l i t a r y g e a r , my u n i f o r m s " them i n h i s (DELEON's) conversation got real, luggage.

and p u t

At the conclusion of the just with

w i t h KABIR, GOJALI s a i d t o DELEON, "The s h i t

s o n . " DELEON i n f o r m e d 4 a n d 5, 2 0 1 2 .

t h e CS o f h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n

KABIR on November 94. telephone. mission and

On November

4, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS s p o k e w i t h DELEON b y t h e CS t h a t KABIR d i d n o t go on h i s f o r t h e group t o a r r i v e together. KABIR

DELEON i n f o r m e d

a n d t h a t he (KABIR) w o u l d w a i t would a l l leave

that they

f o rthe mission

also told

DELEON t h a t t r a v e l i n g t o D u b a i t o meet t h e g r o u p was a f o r him (KABIR). 5, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h SANTANA, DELEON,

security risk 95. and

On November During

GOJALI.

t h e m e e t i n g , SANTANA s a i d he h a d a dream last night. they The men d i s c u s s e d thermal what

t h a t he was s n i p i n g someone items

t o p a c k a n d DELEON a d v i s e d

were t o b r i n g

underwear, an xbox, s p o r t s m a g a z i n e s , and d u r a b l e said they them. should

s h o e s ; DELEON

n o t b r i n g b o o t s a s t h a t c o u l d draw a t t e n t i o n t o t h a t , on t h e n i g h t o f November 3, 2012,

The CS r e p o r t e d

DELEON, SANTANA, a n d GOJALI a s k e d a n a s s o c i a t e t o d r i v e them t o M e x i c o when t h e y informed leave. The a s s o c i a t e a g r e e d t o do s o . were g o i n g to obtain tickets to go t o a t r a v e l a g e n c y on DELEON

t h e CS t h a t t h e y

Afghanistan November

v i a Dubai and would l i k e l y

8, 2 0 1 2 .

I n t h e CS's p r e s e n c e , SANTANA r e s e a r c h e d t h e

63

tickets

from Mexico C i t y t o A f g h a n i s t a n f o r t r a v e l on November $3900.00 p e r p e r s o n .

v i a Dubai and l e a r n e d 14 was

that the cost approximately

13 o r November

When a s k e d how e a c h p e r s o n SANTANA s t a t e d he was some p r o p e r t y before going

planned t o contribute f o r the t r i p , to a s k a r e l a t i v e f o r money a n d s e l l

l e a v i n g ; GOJALI s a i d he w o u l d a s k a f a m i l y member a s w e l l ; a n d DELEON s a i d t h e w o r s t c a s e s c e n a r i o w o u l d be he c o u l d t a k e h i s c a r t o Carmax t o s e l l . 96. On November 6, 2 0 1 2 , SANTANA s p o k e w i t h t h e CS b y

phone a n d s t a t e d t h a t he (SANTANA) s p o k e w i t h KABIR r e c e n t l y . According t o SANTANA, KABIR s a i d t h a t " t h e b r o t h e r s " were to arrive. KABIR a d v i s e d SANTANA asking that

when t h e g r o u p was g o i n g

he w a n t e d t h e men t o l e a v e on T h u r s d a y , November that they could arrive

8, 2 0 1 2 , so 9, 2 0 1 2 , t o

i n K a b u l on F r i d a y , November

l e a v e w i t h h i m ( p r e s u m a b l y on h i s m i s s i o n ) . 97. telephone. On November 7, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS s p o k e w i t h DELEON v i a

DELEON, who was a c c o m p a n i e d b y G O J A L I , t o l d t h e CS 6, 2 0 1 2 , a n d KABIR i n the next told

t h a t he t a l k e d w i t h KABIR on November DELEON he m i g h t be g o i n g days.

on a " m i s s i o n "

several be a

DELEON s a i d i f KABIR g o e s on t h e m i s s i o n ,

i twill

"one-way t r i p . " he meant.

DELEON t h e n a s k e d t h e CS i f he u n d e r s t o o d what meant plans

The CS r e p o r t e d t o t h e F B I t h a t t h e r e f e r e n c e on a s u i c i d e m i s s i o n . 64 DELEON made

KABIR m i g h t be g o i n g

w i t h t h e CS t o t r a v e l w i t h t h e o t h e r men t o g e t DELEON's a n d GOJALI's p a s s p o r t s on November 8, 2012.

DELEON GETS HIS PASSPORT AND SEARCHES ON-LINE FOR FLIGHTS 98. On November 8, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS p i c k e d up SANTANA a n d t h e n W h i l e en r o u t e , SANTANA

d r o v e t o meet w i t h DELEON a n d G O J A L I .

t o l d t h e CS t h a t he r e c e n t l y s p o k e w i t h KABIR, who s a i d he was going on a m i s s i o n . The CS t o l d SANTANA t h a t t h e CS p r e v i o u s l y

s p o k e w i t h DELEON a n d a s k e d what SANTANA b e l i e v e d a b o u t t h e reference replied 99. and t o t h e "one-way t r i p . " According t o t h e CS, SANTANA

"boom." SANTANA a n d t h e CS t h e n p i c k e d up DELEON a n d GOJALI occurred:

the following a.

DELEON t o l d t h e men t h a t he s p o k e w i t h KABIR t h e

previous mission

n i g h t a n d t h a t KABIR d i d n o t go on h i s s c h e d u l e d b e c a u s e he was s i c k . KABIR t o l d DELEON t h a t t h e m i s s i o n DELEON

was a s u i c i d e b o m b i n g o p e r a t i o n s a i d KABIR p l a n n e d t o w a i t before going

i n v o l v i n g C4 e x p l o s i v e s .

f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e group t o a r r i v e DELEON s a i d KABIR's increased the Afghans'

on a n o t h e r m i s s i o n .

w i l l i n g n e s s t o go on a s u i c i d e m i s s i o n trust

i n KABIR a n d t h e r e s t o f t h e g r o u p . b. DELEON s a i d t h a t KABIR p l a n n e d t o f a x f o u r t o KABIR's f a m i l y home f o r t h e g r o u p t o u s e . a n d were t o be a d d r e s s e d t o

wedding i n v i t a t i o n s

The i n v i t a t i o n s w o u l d be f i c t i o n a l 65

the

f o u r men.

The g r o u p p l a n n e d

t o present

the i n v i t a t i o n s DELEON

upon

arrival

i n Kabul

t o e x p l a i n t h e i r presence there. t o p i c k up t h e i n v i t a t i o n s

a d v i s e d t h a t he i n t e n d e d relative. c.

f r o m KABIR's

SANTANA, DELEON, G O J A L I , a n d t h e CS d r o v e t o t h e i n Los Angeles, where DELEON p i c k e d up h i s

P h i l i p p i n e s Consulate passport

a n d showed i t t o t h e CS when he r e t u r n e d t o t h e c a r . i n s t r u c t e d t h e men t o t r a v e l t o t h e A f g h a n Upon a r r i v i n g a t t h e c o n s u l a t e , Consulate

DELEON t h e n in

Santa Monica.

DELEON t o l d

SANTANA t o make a n i n q u i r y w i t h t h e c o n s u l a t e visas to Afghanistan f o r a wedding.

about g e t t i n g to enter the

SANTANA t r i e d

c o n s u l a t e b u t r e t u r n e d a n d a d v i s e d t h e men t h a t t h e c o n s u l a t e was closed. d. The men t h e n traveled to the Federal Building i n He r e t u r n e d a s h o r t while

L o s A n g e l e s a n d GOJALI went i n s i d e . l a t e r w i t h a U.S. p a s s p o r t

application.

GOJALI s a i d he was t o l d

t h a t he c o u l d o n l y g e t h i s p a s s p o r t airline tickets e. departure: passport

t h e same d a y i f he h a d

a n d i t was a n e m e r g e n c y . DELEON t o l d t h e men t h e y h a d t h r e e o p t i o n s f o r f o r M e x i c o C i t y a s s o o n a s GOJALI g o t h i s f o r t h e i r v i s a s t h e r e ; 2) d e p a r t f o r Mexico t o get

1) d e p a r t

and arrange

C i t y and f l y t o a M u s l i m c o u n t r y t h e i r Afghani visas; o r 3) s e c u r e

where t h e y w o u l d a r r a n g e

t h e i r v i s a s i n t h e U.S., w h i c h

66

w o u l d d e l a y t h e i r d e p a r t u r e b y one o r two d a y s .

DELEON t o l d t h

men t h e g r o u p w o u l d d e p a r t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s on Wednesday o r Thursday (November 1 4 t h o r 1 5 t h ) . f. planned t o s e l l DELEON s a i d t h a t he h a d a b u y e r f o r h i s c a r and The men

i t on Monday, November 12, 2 0 1 2 .

d i s c u s s e d g o i n g t o t h e s h o o t i n g r a n g e on t h a t Monday a s w e l l . DELEON s a i d his car. g. travel DELEON a n d SANTANA s p e n t t i m e c a l l i n g t h r e e about t i c k e t s f o rt h e i r departure. he w o u l d p a y f o r t h e r a n g e s i n c e he w i l l have sold

agencies t o inquire a travel

SANTANA c a l l e d w i t h the agent. price

agency

a n d DELEON s p o k e on t h e phone ticket

DELEON a d v i s e d t h e q u o t e d i n d i v i d u a l ticket

was $1,500 f o r a r o u n d t r i p

from Mexico C i t y t o

Istanbul, 100.

T u r k e y , d e p a r t i n g on November 1 4 t h o r 1 5 t h . On November 13, 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS met w i t h DELEON, SANTANA i n Chino. DELEON u s e d a l a p t o p computer t o Dubai,

and GOJALI a t a n a p a r t m e n t a. to

At t h e apartment,

search on-line f o r f l i g h t

o p t i o n s from Mexico C i t y

w h i c h t h e men d i s c u s s e d . the

DELEON a s k e d t h e CS t o b u y t i c k e t s f o f o r himself

CS a n d f o r G O J A L I , w h i l e he w o u l d b u y t i c k e t s The CS a g r e e d .

and SANTANA. ticket first

DELEON s u g g e s t e d t h e y b u y GOJALI'

s o t h e y c o u l d g e t an i t i n e r a r y t o u s e t o a c q u i r e While a t t h e apartment, 67 GOJALI finished

GOJALI's p a s s p o r t .

filling

out h i s passport

application,

w h i c h he b r o u g h t w i t h h i m

when t h e g r o u p l e f t residence. b. in the l i v i n g

t h e a p a r t m e n t a n d d r o v e t o DELEON's

At the residence,

DELEON u s e d a c o m p u t e r l o c a t e d DELEON f o u n d a

room t o c o n d u c t I n t e r n e t r e s e a r c h . on U n i t e d A i r l i n e s

round-trip ticket

d e p a r t i n g M e x i c o C i t y on (through W a s h i n g t o n DC

Sunday, November 18, 2 0 1 2 , t o D u b a i , UAE and F r a n k f u r t , Germany). according

The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e c o s t o f t h a t was

ticket,

t o DELEON's I n t e r n e t r e s e a r c h , When SANTANA e x p r e s s e d

approximately

$1,350.

concern about t h e States, that

i t i n e r a r y because i t i n c l u d e d a stop i n s i d e t h e United DELEON s a i d i t w o u l d n o t be a p r o b l e m . itinerary, f o r GOJALI. c. Bank. the The After finding

DELEON a s k e d t h e CS f o r $1,400 t o p u r c h a s e t h e t i c k e t The CS a g r e e d a n d gave DELEON $1,400 i n c a s h . The CS a n d DELEON t h e n d r o v e t o a W e l l s Fargo advised

DELEON went i n s i d e t h e bank a n d upon r e t u r n i n g

CS t h a t he h a d d e p o s i t e d men r e t u r n e d

t h e money i n t o h i s bank a c c o u n t . a website

t o DELEON's h o u s e a n d DELEON a c c e s s e d and a g a i n searched

u s i n g t h e same c o m p u t e r a s b e f o r e f r o m M e x i c o t o t h e UAE. include a stop entered

for flights

DELEON f o u n d an i t i n e r a r y t h a t d i d n o t States. Using t h e I n t e r n e t , DELEON

i n the United

G O J A L I ' s name a n d i d e n t i f y i n g

i n f o r m a t i o n and b o u g h t a

t i c k e t u s i n g DELEON's d e b i t c a r d . 68

The CS o b s e r v e d t h a t t h e

i t i n e r a r y - i n d i c a t e d a d e p a r t u r e f r o m M e x i c o C i t y on Sunday, November 18, 2 0 1 2 , w i t h a f i n a l (stopping i n Frankfurt, d e s t i n a t i o n o f D u b a i , UAE After purchasing the ticket,

Germany).

DELEON s a i d he w o u l d t e l l morning the

I n d i v i d u a l A t o p i c k them up T h u r s d a y DELEON p r i n t e d t h e i t i n e r a r y and i n Los Angeles t o get

t o depart f o r Mexico.

men d e p a r t e d f o r t h e f e d e r a l b u i l d i n g

GOJALI's p a s s p o r t . d. A s t h e g r o u p d e p a r t e d , DELEON saw a m a i l carrier

and t o l d t h e CS t o s t o p t h e c a r . to for r e c e i v e something the mail.

DELEON s a i d he was e x p e c t i n g

f r o m KABIR a n d g o t o u t o f t h e c a r t o w a i t

He c h e c k e d t h e m a i l a n d r e t u r n e d t o t h e c a r . that

When t h e CS a s k e d what he was w a i t i n g f o r , DELEON r e s p o n d e d

KABIR was g o i n g t o s e n d w e d d i n g i n v i t a t i o n s t o DELEON's h o u s e but t h e y had n o t y e t a r r i v e d . e. The men a r r i v e d a t t h e f e d e r a l b u i l d i n g , parked,

and w a l k e d t o w a r d t h e b u i l d i n g . the

As t h e y d i d s o , DELEON s e a r c h e d

I n t e r n e t u s i n g h i s phone a n d s a i d G O J A L I ' s e x p e d i t e d likely c o s t $198. W h i l e t h e CS a n d SANTANA (presumably t o apply

p a s s p o r t would waited outside, for

GOJALI e n t e r e d t h e b u i l d i n g A t one p o i n t ,

h i s passport).

DELEON a s k e d t h e CS f o r $100,

w h i c h t h e CS g a v e t o DELEON. building

DELEON t h e n w a l k e d i n s i d e t h e

( p r e s u m a b l y t o h e l p GOJALI p a y t h e p a s s p o r t f e e ) .

69

f.

GOJALI a n d DELEON w a l k e d o u t o f t h e b u i l d i n g t h a t GOJALI's p a s s p o r t would

s e v e r a l minutes l a t e r and r e p o r t e d be

r e a d y b e t w e e n 1:00 p.m. a n d 3:00 p.m. t h e f o l l o w i n g d a y SANTANA s a i d t h a t t h e y w i l l know i f without

(Wednesday, November 1 4 t h ) . everything any

i s o k a y t o m o r r o w i f GOJALI g e t s h i s p a s s p o r t SANTANA s a i d i f t h e r e

problems.

i s some p r o b l e m i n i s s u i n g s o m e t h i n g i s wrong SANTANA s a i d

GOJALI's p a s s p o r t , (implying

t h a t w o u l d mean t h a t

government i n v o l v e m e n t / i n t e r d i c t i o n ) .

KABIR h a d s u c h a p r o b l e m when he g o t h i s p a s s p o r t . g. and D u r i n g t h e d a y , DELEON e x c h a n g e d t e x t m e s s a g e s effort

phone c a l l s w i t h two i n d i v i d u a l s i n an u n s u c c e s s f u l his car. h. Later i n t h e day, a f t e r d i n n e r , current

to s e l l

DELEON s a i d he The CS

would a p p r i s e

Individual A of t h e i r

situation.

understood that they s t i l l

p l a n n e d t o d e p a r t f o r M e x i c o on DELEON t o l d t h e CS t o be a t t h e

T h u r s d a y , November 15, 2 0 1 2 . apartment tomorrow could

(Wednesday, November 1 4 t h ) b y noon s o t h e y passport.

go t o L o s A n g e l e s t o p i c k up G O J A L I ' s i. Later,

SANTANA t o l d t h e CS t h a t he p l a n n e d t o

t a l k to h i s brother

a n d s i s t e r a n d e x p l a i n t o them t h a t he was SANTANA s a i d he w i l l tell them

l e a v i n g and might never r e t u r n . t o behave i n h i s absence.

70

101.

On T u e s d a y , November 13, 2 0 1 2 , office

t h e F B I i n t e r v i e w e d an whom t h e

e m p l o y e e o f t h e U.S. p a s s p o r t FBI

i n Los Angeles,

h a d o b s e r v e d a s s i s t i n g GOJALI a n d DELEON. along

The e m p l o y e e was with several recognized

shown an a p p l i c a t i o n f o r a U.S. P a s s p o r t , pieces the o f accompanying documentation.

The e m p l o y e e

a p p l i c a t i o n and s u p p o r t i n g

documentation and i d e n t i f i e d

GOJALI f r o m h i s p a s s p o r t application. and

p h o t o a s t h e p e r s o n who s u b m i t t e d t h e

The e m p l o y e e s a i d a young m a l e a c c o m p a n i e d GOJALI According t o t h e employee,

p a i d GOJALI's a p p l i c a t i o n f e e .

GOJALI c l a i m e d

t h a t t h e p u r p o s e f o r h i s t r a v e l was t o go t o funeral.

Dubai v i a Mexico f o r h i s g r a n d f a t h e r ' s GOJALI GETS HIS PASSPORT 102.

On Wednesday, November 14, 2 0 1 2 ,

t h e CS met w i t h to travel to

DELEON, SANTANA a n d GOJALI a n d t h e g r o u p p r e p a r e d the

f e d e r a l b u i l d i n g i n L o s A n g e l e s t o p i c k up G O J A L I ' s The g r o u p t r a v e l e d t o t h e f e d e r a l b u i l d i n g , where, a t 1:30 p.m., GOJALI p i c k e d up h i s U.S. p a s s p o r t . s u r p r i s e t h a t he was o f " i f they only

passport.

approximately According

t o t h e CS, GOJALI e x p r e s s e d

issued a passport knew."

and s a i d words t o t h e e f f e c t

The CS a l s o r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e g r o u p c o n t i n u e d f o rt h e i r overseas departure,

t o make

preparations

t h a t DELEON s o l d h i s

c a r f o r $4,000 l a t e r t h a t e v e n i n g ,

a n d t h a t DELEON d e p o s i t e d t h e

money p l u s a n a d d i t i o n a l sum t h a t DELEON a s k e d t h e CS t o g i v e 71

him

i n order t o cover the cost o f plane t i c k e t s .

According to

t h e CS, t h e g r o u p d e c i d e d t h a t I n d i v i d u a l A w o u l d d r i v e t h e men to Mexico a t 3:00 p.m. on November 15, 2012. L a t e r , DELEON

a d v i s e d t h e g r o u p t h a t t h i s p l a n h a d c h a n g e d t o a 1:00 p.m. expected departure 103. time. l a t e r i n t h e e v e n i n g on November w i t h KABIR a n d DELEON told

The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t ,

1 4 t h , t h e group had a Skype c a l l

KABIR t h a t t h e y were d e p a r t i n g f r o m M e x i c o 18th.

C i t y on November notarized

KABIR t o l d DELEON he w o u l d e - m a i l DELEON

wedding i n v i t a t i o n s Afghanistan.

f o r t h e i r u s e when t h e y a r r i v e d i n K a b i r t o s e n d h i m a message

DELEON t o l d

r e f e r e n c i n g t h e L a k e r s a f t e r KABIR s e n t t h e e - m a i l a n d t h a t he (DELEON) w o u l d know what t h a t means. b r i n g him socks and c o l d 104. medicine. w i t h KABIR, KABIR a s k e d t h e men t o

The CS r e p o r t e d t h a t a f t e r t h e S k y p e c a l l tickets

DELEON a t t e m p t e d - t o p u r c h a s e

f o r DELEON, SANTANA a n d t h e DELEON s u r m i s e d t h a t t h e

CS, b u t t h a t DELEON was u n s u c c e s s f u l .

money he d e p o s i t e d f r o m t h e s a l e o f h i s c a r a t t h e ATM h a d n o t yet a r r i v e d i n h i s account. DELEON p l a n n e d t o t r y again later

that n i g h t t o purchase

tickets.

DELEON PURCHASES AIRLINE TICKETS 105. On November 1 5 , 2 0 1 2 , t h e CS s p o k e t o a g e n t s b y

t e l e p h o n e a b o u t r e c e n t e v e n t s w i t h DELEON, SANTANA a n d G O J A L I . 72

I have spoken

t o t h e s e a g e n t s a n d l e a r n e d t h a t t h e CS

reported

t o them t h e f o l l o w i n g : a. recently. DELEON t o l d t h e CS t h a t SANTANA s p o k e t o KABIR

KABIR i n f o r m e d SANTANA t h a t i f t h e g r o u p t r a v e l e d DELEON

f r o m D u b a i t o K a b u l , t h e C I A w o u l d be l o o k i n g f o r them. s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e g r o u p change t h e i r t r a v e l b. GOJALI. plans.

L a t e r t h a t d a y , t h e CS met w i t h DELEON a n d $210 tried

A t one p o i n t d u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g , GOJALI p r o v i d e d DELEON t h e n

t o DELEON a s h i s c o n t r i b u t i o n f o r t h e t r i p .

t o p u r c h a s e t i c k e t s o n - l i n e , b u t was u n s u c c e s s f u l problem with h i s debit card. help

due t o a

The CS a s k e d DELEON i f i t w o u l d DELEON

i f DELEON w i t h d r e w money f r o m DELEON's a c o u n t .

s u g g e s t e d w i t h d r a w i n g t h e money f r o m h i s bank a c c o u n t a n d depositing i t i n t o t h e CS's bank a c c o u n t s o t h e CS c o u l d u s e h i s DELEON w i t h d r e w c a s h f r o m h i s

d e b i t c a r d t o make t h e p u r c h a s e . bank a c c o u n t and p r o v i d e d deposited

t h e money t o t h e CS; t h e CS t h e n

t h e money i n t o h i s b a n k a c c o u n t . c. U s i n g t h e CS's d e b i t c a r d , DELEON t h e n u s e d a

computer t o purchase f o u r t i c k e t s

f o r t h e CS, DELEON, SANTANA,

and GOJALI t o f l y f r o m M e x i c o C i t y t o I s t a n b u l , T u r k e y , on November 18, 2 0 1 2 . ///

73

CONCLUSION 106. B a s e d on t h e f o r e g o i n g , t h e r e i s p r o b a b l e cause t o

b e l i e v e t h a t KABIR, DELEON, SANTANA, a n d GOJALI have v i o l a t e d Title 18, U n i t e d S t a t e s Code, S e c t i o n 2339A.

N. T. E L I A S S p e c i a l Agent, FBI

S u b s c r i b e d and sworn t o b e f o r e me on November ( { , 2012.

SHERJ PYM

THE HONORABLE SHERI PYM UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE