BROOKLYN RESIDENT INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER OVERSEAS...

BROOKLYN RESIDENT INDICTED FOR CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER OVERSEAS AND CONSPIRACY TO PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORT TO TERRORISTS

An indictment was unsealed in federal court this morning charging Betim Kaziu, a U.S. citizen and resident of Brooklyn, with conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.1 Kaziu is scheduled to be arraigned later today before United States Magistrate Judge Joan M. Azrack, at the U.S. Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York.

The charges were announced by Benton J. Campbell, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Joseph M. Demarest, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office; and Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.

According to the indictment and other documents filed by the government, in early January 2009, Kaziu devised a plan to travel abroad for the purpose of joining a radical foreign fighter group and to take up arms against perceived enemies of Islam. Kaziu allegedly boarded a flight at John F. Kennedy Airport on February 19, 2009, and traveled to Cairo, Egypt, where he took steps to continue on to Pakistan to obtain training and other support for violent activities. Kaziu also attempted to join Al-Shabbab, a radicalized, militant insurgency group, which has supported Al Qaeda and which has been designated as a terrorist organization by the United States Department of State. In addition, Kaziu made efforts to travel to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Balkans to fight against U.S. armed forces. To that end, Kaziu attempted on multiple occasions to purchase weapons in Egypt. Ultimately, Kaziu traveled to Kosovo, where he was arrested by Kosovar law enforcement authorities in late August 2009.

“This case is a textbook example of a successful international effort to investigate and apprehend those who would engage in terrorist acts and pre-empt their plots,” stated United States Attorney Campbell. “We will spare no effort in this pursuit.” Mr. Campbell thanked the government of Kosovo, the U.S. State Department, and the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs for their assistance in the investigation.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Demarest stated, “American servicemen and women go in harm’s way to protect their country and make the world a safer place. Among our most critical missions is to protect them from those bent on traveling overseas to do them harm. We continue to work with our partners locally and internationally to fulfill that mission.”

NYPD Commissioner Kelly stated, “This is just another example of excellent work by FBI agents and NYPD detectives, supported by U.S. Attorney Benton Campbell and his staff, in bringing to justice those who would target Americans both here and abroad.”

If convicted of conspiracy to commit murder overseas, Kaziu faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. If convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, Kaziu faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shreve Ariail and Seth D. DuCharme.

_____________________________ 1 The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

NOTE The following text is a quote:

www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2012/brooklyn-man-sentenced-to-27-years-in-prison-for-conspiring-to-kill-u.s.-soldiers-abroad-and-attempting-to-provide-material-support-to-al-shabaab

Brooklyn Man Sentenced to 27 Years in Prison for Conspiring to Kill U.S. Soldiers Abroad and Attempting to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

U.S. Attorney’s Office
March 02, 2012

Eastern District of New York

Betim Kaziu was sentenced today to 27 years’ imprisonment for conspiring to kill U.S. soldiers abroad and related terrorism charges. On July 7, 2011, following a two-week trial before United States District Judge John Gleeson in Brooklyn federal court, the defendant was convicted of conspiring to commit murder overseas, conspiring to provide material support to terrorism, attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and conspiring to use a machine gun in furtherance of those crimes.

The sentence was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

The evidence at trial established that the defendant traveled from Brooklyn to Cairo, Egypt in February 2009 in order to wage violent jihad against United States troops in the Middle East and the Balkans. While in Cairo, the defendant also attempted to acquire automatic weapons and to travel to Somalia to join al Shabaab, a Somali terrorist organization allied with al Qaeda. Ultimately, the defendant traveled to Kosovo in an effort to target American troops stationed there or to travel onward to Pakistan to join al Qaeda. The defendant also recorded a martyrdom video on the Albanian coast of his “last few moments” before he expected to depart for jannah, or paradise, reserved for martyrs. Shortly thereafter, on August 27, 2009, the defendant was arrested in Kosovo by the Kosovo Police Service. He was then transferred to the custody of agents and detectives of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force to face terrorism charges filed in the Eastern District of New York. At the time of his arrest, the defendant had already purchased a ticket to travel to Pakistan on September 15, 2009.

Testimony at trial established that Kaziu had been radicalized, in part, by Internet speeches by Anwar al-Awlaki and propaganda videos produced by al Qaeda and al Shabaab. The government also introduced at trial evidence from the defendant’s social networking website, including quotes by Osama Bin Laden.

United States Attorney Lynch thanked the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, the government of Kosovo, the U.S. State Department, the Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, and the New York City Police Department for their assistance.

The government’s case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Shreve Ariail, Seth D. DuCharme and Ali Kazemi, with assistance provided by Joanna Baltes of the National Security Division.

The Defendant
BETIM KAZIU
Age: 23

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