DC transit cop busted for ISIS support

A Washington transit police officer was arrested on Wednesday on charges he attempted to provide material support to Islamic State, the U.S. Justice Department said, the first member of law enforcement facing such charges involving a government-designated terrorist group.

The Justice Department alleged on August 3 that Nicholas Young, 36, had acquired codes for gift cards that were intended for the mobile-messaging accounts that Islamic State has used as part of its recruitment efforts. On July 28, 2016, Young sent 22 sixteen digit gift card codes to the Federal Bureau of Investigation undercover with a message that stated: “Respond to verify receipt. may not answer depending on when as this device will be destroyed after all are sent to prevent the data being possibly seen on this end in the case of something unfortunate”. On July, 28, he sent 22 gift card codes to the undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation officer with the message: “Respond to verify receipt. may not answer depending on when as this device will be destroyed after all are sent to prevent the data being possibly seen on this end in the case of something unfortunate”. “They’re disturbing to me, and they’re disturbing to everyone who wears the uniform”, Metro General Manager Paul Wiedefeld said in a statement.

Young is the first US police officer to face a terror-related charge, according to the Associated Press.

A Washington, D.C. -area transit police officer charged with attempting to support the Islamic State group has made his initial appearance in court.

Authorities say he was arrested earlier in the day at the Metro Transit Police headquarters in Washington. Several meetings included another of Young’s acquaintances, Amine El Khalifi, who later pleaded guilty to charges relating to his plan to conduct a suicide bombing at the U.S. Capital Building in 2012. He faces up to 20 years in prison if he is found guilty.

On Jan. 24, 2011, an undercover officer said Young told the officer he once aimed an AK-47-style rifle out of a window at his home, scanning for law enforcement he believed was watching him.

In a June 2015 interview with law enforcement, he described dressing up at Halloween parties as a jihadist who had beheaded a hostage and as a Nazi. He also said he had previously dressed up as a Nazi and collects Nazi memorabilia.

The documents show Young was an associate of two other persons who were charged with terror-related crimes.