North Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Trying to Join Islamic State
An American pleaded guilty to terrorism charges this week after he reportedly attempted to join the Islamic State earlier this year.
Donald Ray Morgan of North Carolina pleaded guilty this week to attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist group. He has admitted to an unsuccessful attempt at traveling to Syria to help fight with the Islamic State terrorist group.
According to NBC News, who did an exclusive on Morgan, the North Carolina suspect was arrested at John F. Kennedy airport back in August for illegally possessing a firearm. Morgan was traveling from Germany to New York City at the time of his arrest.
Along with pleading guilty to carrying a firearm, Morgan has also admitted that he tried to join the Islamic State in Syria, even go so far as to travel to Lebanon and enter the Syrian border. The suspect also admitted to posting pro-jihadist messages on his social media accounts that suggested killing in the name of one's religion was just.
"Today's plea is a sad reminder that those who wish to aid foreign terrorist organizations can come from any community and from any background," Ripley Rand, U.S. attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina, said in a statement following Morgan's charges, according to the Los Angeles Times.
"Donald Ray Morgan proved himself to be a threat to national security," John Strong, the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in North Carolina, told WCNC-TV. "He traveled overseas with intentions to join the violent terrorist group, ISIL in Syria. American citizens who support terrorist organizations must be held accountable for their actions."
