On January 7, 2015, Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, 24, a Palestinian born in Iraq, who came to the United States of America reportedly as a refugee, was arrested in Houston, Texas and charged with three counts of material support to the ISIS terrorist organization.  His indictment states that Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan entered the United States as a refugee on or about November 2, 2009.   It states that he lied on his naturalization form  about his associations with terrorist groups, and he also received machine gun training as part of travels with terror groups.

R.E.A.L. also has a report on Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab arrested in Sacramento, California on a related case.

A separate Houston News Channel 2 television report states: “Channel 2 Investigates obtained the city of Houston limousine driver’s permit that Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan obtained in 2014. It lists him as a ‘legal resident.'”  Channel 2 also reported “Other arrests were made in Milwaukee in a separate but connected case, Channel 2 has learned. The Houston arrest is part of a federal terrorism-related investigation. Al Hardan is expected to face three federal charges, including providing support to terrorists.” “KPRC reported Thursday evening that the Texas suspect has lived in Houston for several years and was in contact with people in Milwaukee and Sacramento. The case involved plotting to get people currently in the United States moved overseas, specifically the Middle East.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports:
Texas Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL

Omar Faraj Saeed Al Hardan, 24, a Palestinian born in Iraq, has been charged in a three-count indictment alleging that he attempted to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson of the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBI’s Houston Division and Special Agent in Charge Brian M. Moskowitz of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Houston made the announcement.

The three-count indictment was returned on Jan. 6, 2016, and was unsealed today. He will have his initial appearance tomorrow at 10:00 a.m CST in Houston.

Al Hardan entered the United States as an Iraqi refugee on or about Nov. 2, 2009. He was granted legal permanent residence status on or about Aug. 22, 2011, and resides in Houston.

He is charged with one count each of attempting to provide material support to ISIL, procurement of citizenship or naturalization unlawfully and making false statements.

The indictment alleges that Al Hardan attempted to provide material support and resources, including training, expert advice and assistance, and personnel – specifically himself – to a known foreign terrorist organization. According to the allegations, he also knowingly responded, certified and swore untruthfully on his formal application when applying to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. He allegedly represented that he was not associated with a terrorist organization when, in fact, he associated with members and sympathizers of ISIL throughout 2014, according to the charges. The indictment further alleges that during an interview in October 2015, Al Hardan falsely represented that he had never received any type of weapons training, when he allegedly received automatic machine gun training.

The charge of attempting to provide material support to terrorists carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. The charge of false citizenship procurement carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison (if the offense was committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism). The charge of making false statements carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison. If convicted, any potential sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal history, if any, the defendant’s role in the offense and the characteristics of the violation.

An indictment is merely a formal charging document and is not evidence of guilt. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and HSI with the assistance of the Houston Police Department. Trial Attorney Kashyap Patel of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section is prosecuting the case along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Ralph Imperato of the Southern District of Texas.

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Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) stands in support of our universal human rights for all, and we stand in defiance against those, including terrorist and hate groups, which seek to attack such universal human rights, dignity, and security for all.

We cannot support human rights, if we also do not reject those who seek to rob our brothers and sisters in humanity of their lives and security, which are also our universal human rights.