SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO: The father of a Georgia boy who lost his life in a secluded New Mexico compound where the man was reportedly intending to carry out acts of terrorism against the US government, has been convicted besides other involved family members, prosecutors said.
A federal jury, after a three week trial, found Siraj Ibn Wahhaj and his brother-in-law Lucas Morton guilty of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to murder an officer or employee of the US, the US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico announced in a press release on Friday, October 20.
What charges do Abdul Ghani Wahhaj's sisters face?
Wahhaj’s sisters, Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhanah Wahhaj, were convicted of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, resulting in death. Morton was additionally convicted on the same charges.
A fifth defendant named Jany Leveille pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and being in possession of a firearm while unlawfully in the country as a part of the plea agreement.
Following a months long probe into the whereabouts of Siraj’s three-year-old son Abdul Ghani Wahhaj, all five adults were arrested after a raid.
The boy was reported missing by his mother
In December 2017, the victim's mother filed a missing person's report after she said he was taken by his father to the park, but never returned.
She also informed the authorities that her son suffered from seizures and cognitive and developmental delays and could not walk.
When was the boy's remains discovered?
The boy’s remains were eventually found at a remote New Mexico compound. The authorities made their way into the property which had been under surveillance by the FBI after receiving a message from someone inside that read, in part, “We are starving and need food and water."
The authorities, much to their surprise, found 11 children inside with “no food or fresh water” when they went inside and multiple loaded guns “within easy reach” of the children.
The boy’s remains were then discovered in a chamber in the back of a tunnel. The condition of the body was “consistent with a type of ritual burial,” Eighth Judicial District Attorney Donald Gallegos said.
The victim was deprived of his anti-seizure medication
According to the US Attorney’s Office, the group abducted Abdul Ghani from Georgia and brought him to New Mexico where they deprived him of his anti-seizure medication and subjected him to an exhausting daily regimen of purported spiritual exorcisms, while believing the boy was possessed by demons.
The release states that Leveille convinced Siraj and the others to establish a community centered on the belief that Abdul Ghani would return as Jesus Christ to pass judgment on institutions the group believed to be corrupt, including the FBI, the military and other government and financial institutions.
The criminals established a fortified base
Prosecutors said they established a fortified base and a firing range, Armed with 11 firearms, including an assault rifle, high-capacity magazines, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, the group conducted weapons and tactical training and required some of the children to do so as well.
The group conducted the training with the intent to “face the nation” according to the US Attorney's Office and kill those who refused to believe as they did. They reportedly spoke of waging jihad and becoming martyrs.
According to Fox News, the defendants played the victim card by saying that authorities singled them out because of their Muslim faith.
“In addition to this preparation for terror, the senseless kidnapping resulting in the death of a juvenile these criminals conducted is inexcusable and have no place in our society,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda said in the release.
“Their despicable actions shattered a community and a family who will forever be impacted by these traumatic events. The convictions rendered in this case show those who participate in these types of criminal activities will be held accountable for their actions," Bujanda said.
