DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

United States Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr.

Western District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 31, 2015
www.usdoj.gov/usao/nyw

CONTACT: Karen Brown

PHONE:
(716) 843-5836
FAX #:
(716) 551-3051

ROCHESTERMANCHARGEDWITH
ATTEMPTINGTOPROVIDEMATERIALSUPPORTTOISIL

ROCHESTER,NYAssistantAttorneyGeneralforNationalSecurityJohnP.Carlin,
U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. and Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen of the
FBIsBuffaloDivisionannouncedtodaythatEmanuelL.Lutchman,25,wasarrestedand
charged by criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support to the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Thechargecarriesamaximumpenaltyof20yearsinprisonanda$250,000fine.

Accordingtothecomplaint,aspartofEmanuelLutchmansattempttoprovide
material supportto ISIL, he planned tokillinnocent civilians onNew Years Eve in the
nameoftheterroristorganization.saidAssistantAttorneyGeneralCarlin.Thankfully,
lawenforcementwasabletointerveneandthwartLutchman'sdeadlyplans.

ThisNewYearsEveprosecutionunderscoresthethreatofISILeveninupstate
New York but demonstrates our determination to immediately stop any who would
causeharminitsname,saidU.S.AttorneyHochul.WhatbeganasanISILdirectiveto
harm the community ended with the arrest of this defendant and a message for any
other individuals considering similar behavior you will be caught, you will be
prosecuted,andyouwillbepunished.Whilelawenforcementiswellequippedforsuch
investigations, the public is reminded to remain vigilant and report any suspicious
activity.Iassuremembersofthepublicthattheexcellentworkofourlawenforcement
partnerswiththecooperationofthepublicisthebestwaytoensurethesafetyofour
community.

TheFBIthwartedEmanuelLutchmansintenttokillciviliansonNewYear'sEve,
saidSpecialAgentinChargeCohen.TheFBIremainsconcernedaboutpeopleoverseas
whousetheInternettoinspirepeopleintheUnitedStatestocommitactsofviolence
wheretheylive.

Accordingtocourtrecords,thedefendant,claimingtoreceivedirectionfroman
overseas ISIL member, planned to commit an armed attack against civilians at a
restaurant/bar located in the Rochester, New York, area today, New Years Eve on
behalfofISILandinfurtheranceofhisplantojoinISILoverseas.

The defendant made an initial appearance this morning before U.S. Magistrate
Judge Marian W. Payson. Lutchman is due back in court on January 8, 2016 at 11:00
a.m.

ThecaseisbeinginvestigatedbytheFBIsRochesterJointTerrorismTaskForce
(JTTF).ThecaseisbeingprosecutedbyAssistantU.S.AttorneyBrettA.Harveywiththe
assistance of Trial Attorney Lawrence Schneider of the National Security Divisions
CounterterrorismSection.

Thefactthatadefendanthasbeenchargedwithacrimeismerelyanaccusation
andthedefendantispresumedinnocentuntilandunlessprovenguilty.

####