NEW YORK – An Arizona
man was convicted Monday in US District Court in New York on several terrorism
offenses in connection with his efforts to help a Hamptonburgh man join
and train with the ISIS.
Ahmed Mohammed El Gammal, 44, of Avondale, Arizona was convicted of providing
and conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, aiding and abetting
the receipt of military-type training from ISIS, and conspiring to receive
such training for Samy El-Goarany.
El Goarany, 24, worked his way to the Middle East where he was killed
in battle.
El Gammal was convicted following a three-week trial of one count of providing
material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and one
count of conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign
terrorist organization, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20
years in federal prison; one count of receiving military-type training
from a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a mandatory
sentence of five years in prison.
US Attorney Preet Bharara said, “Once again, we have shown that
terrorists and terrorist enablers can be brought to justice fairly, openly,
and swiftly in the crown jewel of our justice system – civilian
courts.”
He said a federal court jury on Monday convicted El Gammal of material
support of terrorism. “To grow their brand of hate-filled violence
and radicalization, terrorist organizations like ISIS need facilitators
and promoters around the world. And the jury found today that Ahmed El
Gammal was one such terrorist facilitator.”
