NEW YORK – An Arizona man
was convicted in US District Court in New York on Monday of several terrorism
offenses in connection with his efforts to help a Hamptonburgh man join
and train with ISIS.
Ahmed Mohammed El Gammal, 44, of Avondale, Arizona was found guilty 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.”
Bharara 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.”
