Friend of California shooter indicted on gun, terror charges

A federal grand jury indicted Enrique Marquez Jr. on Wednesday, Dec. 30, accusing him of supplying rifles and explosive powder that were used by the couple who killed 14 people in San Bernardino Dec. 2.

The counts include conspiring with shooter Syed Farook to carry out attacks in 2011 and 2012.

Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, stormed into a holiday party attended by his co-workers at a San Bernardino County social services agency and opened fire on December 2, killing 14 people and wounding 22 others.

If Marquez is convicted on all counts and sentenced to serve the maximum possible terms consecutively, he could face 50 years in prison.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker said that Marqeuz’ indictment shows that the government will go after not only terrorists, but individuals who support them or attempt to support them.

Tonight, according to NBC News, he was indicted on a host of other charges as well, including making false statements about the guns, marriage fraud, and making false statements in reference to what’s described as “an alleged sham marriage to a distant relative of Farook’s”. They both were killed in a shootout with police hours after the massacre.

Farook reportedly had Marquez buy the firearms back in 2011 and 2012 because he feared he wouldn’t pass a background check.

The indictment filing has been anticipated since the U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a complaint against the 24-year-old former nightclub doorman in Riverside earlier this month, and mirrors the charges in the complaint.

Court documents released two weeks ago included a transcript of Marquez’s 911 call, in which he allegedly said “The f***ing asshole used my gun in the shooting.” and “They can trace all the guns back to me”. “The covert nature of the defendant’s alleged actions is a stark reminder of the challenges we face in preventing attacks planned in the name of violent jihad, and underscores the critical need for those with knowledge about terror plots to come forward”. He has not entered a plea but is expected to do so in an arraignment on January 6.

Prosecutors modified the charges Wednesday to add a second gun allegation, saying he made false statements when purchasing the weapons.