BAYONNE — In a proceeding the U.S. Attorney’s office did not disclose until it was over, a Bayonne man connected with two alleged wannabe jihadists pleaded guilty yesterday to lying to investigators. Mohamed Osman, 19, admitted making materially false statements to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force after the arrests of Mohamed Alessa and Carlos E. Almonte — the...
Carlos Eduardo Almonte, Mohamed Mahmood AlessaBAYONNE — In a proceeding the U.S. Attorney’s office did not disclose until it was over, a Bayonne man connected with two alleged wannabe jihadists pleaded guilty yesterday to lying to investigators.
Mohamed Osman, 19, admitted making materially false statements to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force after the arrests of Mohamed Alessa and Carlos E. Almonte — the two New Jersey men accused earlier this year of trying join an overseas militia group with ties to al Qaeda.
Alessa, 21, of North Bergen, and Almonte, 24, of Elmwood Park, were arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York in June as they prepared to board separate flights to Egypt on their way to Somalia. Prosecutors say they intended to join Al Shabaab, a militant Islamic organization that controls much of southern Somalia.
Authorities say neither had any contact with any terrorist groups, despite an earlier trip to Jordan. Both are being held without bail.
The U.S. Attorney’s office said Osman, during interviews with members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, falsely denied knowing about Alessa and Almonte’s plans to travel to Somalia.
In a plea before Senior U.S. District Judge Dickinson R. Debevoise in Newark, Osman said he in fact knew about their plans and had heard Alessa say he would start killing in the United States if he was unable to do it abroad.
A spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney declined to comment on the plea proceeding.
Osman faces eight years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was released on $10,000 bail pending his sentencing, scheduled for Dec. 20.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. terror suspect's mother suffers apparent panic attack
• Fathers of N.J. suspects face first court day of international terrorism case
• Criminal complaint against Mohamed Mahmood Alessa and Carlos Eduardo Almonte
• Two N.J. men arrested at JFK airport before boarding plane to join Islamist terrorist group, authorities say
• N.J. suspect charged in terror case told neighbors he'd be away on trip for six months
| Pedro Almonte talks about his son's terror arrest |