Federal authorities have charged a sophomore at Pennsylvania State University’s Abington campus with lying about his contacts with ISIS sympathizers and assistance he gave to the plotters of an averted terrorist attack in Chicago last year.
“Through his lies, Fataliev sought to frustrate an investigation into the identities of others who may have access to bomb making manuals and similar resources that he posted in two separate online groups populated with terror supporters,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Vineet Gauri said in a detention memo filed last week.He faces two counts of lying to the FBI, punishable by up to five years in prison should he be convicted.
“For all the talk of terrorism, he’s not being charged with any sort of violent act,” McDonald said. “His only engagement is in online chats.” “He seems to be in all other aspects, a young man going in a very positive direct,” McDonald told the judge.