A man from Arizona found guilty of conspiring an attack on a Texas cartoon contest last year as well as for providing support on two Islamic terrorist group followers. He was convicted Thursday to five charges filed against him in U.S. District Court in Phoenix.
Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem reportedly bankrolled and radicalized two ISIS followers who attempted to carry out shootout rampage during a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in Texas last year, the Guardian reported.
The two gunmen, Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi fatally shot and were killed on a stand-off with the police in Dallas suburban on May 2015. Authorities also found that the two had been researching ways to travel to Middle East and join ISIS.
Kareem, who was an American born named Decarus Lowell Thomas and an Islamic convert was convicted to the charges of "conspiracy, interstate transportation of firearms, false statements, being a felon in possession of firearms, and conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization," according to Washington Times. The 44-year old convicted man is scheduled to be sentenced is schedule the 27th of June.
Justin Tolomeo, FBI's Phoenix division's acting special agent, said they are hooing Kareem's verdict gives a strong message to other terrorist supporters, Huffington Post reported. During the course of the federal trial Kareem insists his innocence over his involvement on the conspiring attacks. Daniel Maynars, his representing lawyer expressed his disappointment following the ruling. "I obviously didn't do my job since I believe the jury convicted someone who is innocent," he said.
Authorities said, Kareem hosted Simpson and Soofi at his home to discuss the plot and went target-shooting with them in the Arizona desert. Kareem, who was also a moving company owner he was not aware of the planned attack.
They also found out that the three are planning to blow up the Arizona stadium where the 2015 Super Bowl was held. According to prosecutors, Kareem could face a sentence of at least 45 years of imprisonment.
