ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The Latest on a police officer who the FBI says was caught in a sting with attempting to support the Islamic State group (all times local):
2:15 p.m.
A Washington, D.C.-area transit police officer charged with attempting to support the Islamic State group has made his initial appearance in court.
Thirty-six-year-old Nicholas Young of Fairfax appeared Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. A magistrate appointed a public defender to represent Young after he requested a court-appointed attorney.
The FBI says Young is the first law enforcement officer in the U.S. to be charged under the federal government’s terrorism law.
Young was wearing a T-shirt and what appeared to be his uniform slacks. Authorities say he was arrested earlier in the day at the Metro Transit Police headquarters in Washington.
He said little else during the court hearing, which lasted less than 5 minutes. Prosecutor John Gibbs said Young could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the terrorism charge.
Court documents say Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile messaging apps.
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10:40 a.m.
Authorities say a Washington, D.C.-area transit police officer has been charged in an FBI sting with attempting to support the Islamic State group.
The FBI says he is the first law enforcement officer in the U.S. to be charged with a terror-related crime.
Court documents say 36-year-old Nicholas Young of Fairfax was arrested Wednesday morning. According to an affidavit, Young bought nearly $250 in gift cards he intended for the Islamic State to use to purchase mobile apps that would facilitate communication. But Young actually gave the gift cards to an undercover FBI source.
Documents show Young has been under surveillance since 2010, and that he traveled to Libya twice in 2011, where he said he joined rebel forces seeking to oust dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
Officials say Young did not pose any threat to the Metro system.
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