The Extremism Roundup

Islamist Extremism

Hate crime victim Joseph Borgen of Lawrence, N.Y., speaks to N.Y. Jewish community members in 2021, encouraging them to not stay silent in the face of increasing antisemitism - Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images

Hamas Supporter Sentenced for Violent Assault

• Mohammed Said Othman, 29, received a three-year prison sentence for his part in the violent assault of Joseph Borgen in New York City in May 2021.

• The assault, which was motivated by antisemitic sentiments, occurred during a rally linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

• Other assailants involved in the attack have also received convictions, with sentences ranging from six months to seven years.  Read More

NYC Woman Convicted of Funding Terrorists

• A Manhattan jury convicted Victoria Jacobs, 44, of three felony counts of providing support for an act of terrorism, as well as conspiracy, money laundering and criminal possession of a weapon.

• The New York indictment alleged funds raised by Jacobs ended up in the hands of Hay'at-Tahrir-al-Sham, a former al-Qaeda affiliate. Prosecutors also say Jacobs laundered money for Malhama Tactical.

• Jacobs could spend up to 25 years in prison.  Read More

Anti-Israel Demonstrator Arrested for Assaulting Police Officer

• Maherr Salah Jaeran, 22, was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer during an anti-Israel demonstration in Warren, Mich.

• Jaeran was charged with a felony and held on a $5,000 bond.  Read More

Militant-Right & Militant-Left Extremism

The home of alleged murderer Justin Mohn, Middletown Township, Penn. - via NBC News screenshot

Pennsylvania Man Arrested for Murdering His Father

• Justin Mohn, 32, has been arrested after allegedly killing his father, Michael Mohn, before displaying his decapitated head in a gruesome YouTube video while spouting right-wing conspiracy theories.

• Following the killing, Mohn made a 14-minute YouTube video where he is seen holding his father’s head in a plastic bag while claiming his father was a traitor for being a federal employee.

• Mohn called for the death of all federal officials and attacked President Joe Biden's administration, the Black Lives Matter movement, the LGBT community, and Antifa activists.  Read More

Anti-Abortion Activists Block Access to Clinic

• Six defendants were convicted for federal civil rights offenses related to blocking access to a reproductive health care clinic in Mount Juliet, Tenn., in March 2021.
• The convictions include a felony conspiracy against rights and a Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) offense.
• The defendants' actions were part of a conspiracy to prevent clinic employees from providing abortion services and preventing patients from receiving them.
• The defendants each face up to 10 and a half years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines of up to $260,000.  Read More

Man Pleads Guilty to Attack on New Mexico Democrats

• Demetrio Trujillo, 42, from Albuquerque, pleaded guilty to participating in drive-by shootings at the homes of Democratic officials in New Mexico.
• The attacks occurred between December 2022 and January 2023 and were orchestrated by failed Republican candidate Solomon Pena.
• Trujillo admitted to conspiracy and discharging a firearm in a crime of violence. He faces a minimum of 15 years to a maximum life sentence.  Read More

White Lives Matter Member Sentenced for Firebombing a Church

• Aimenn D. Penny, 20, from Alliance, Ohio, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for attempting to burn down a church supportive of the LGBT community.
• Penny, a member of the extremist groups White Lives Matter Ohio and the Blood Tribe, told FBI agents he made Molotov cocktails and attacked the Community Church of Chesterland, Ohio, because of its plan to host drag events.
• The sentencing holds Penny accountable for using violence and explosives to obstruct religious expression and support for the LGBT community.  Read More

Arson Investigation Underway for Fire in Building Housing Conservative Groups 

• An arson investigation is underway for a fire at the Golden Valley office building, in Minnesota, which houses three conservative groups.
• The organizations affected are the Center of the American Experiment, TakeCharge, and Upper Midwest Law Center.
• The building sustained significant damage, rendering it temporarily uninhabitable. Despite the incident, the organizations plan to continue their operations.  Read More

  Hate Crime

Dion Marsh, 29 - Ocean County Corrections website - via Patch screenshot

New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Assaults Against Jews

• Dion Marsh, 29, from Manchester, N.J., pleaded guilty to committing hate crimes against the Orthodox Jewish community in Lakewood, N.J.

• Marsh's attacks included driving a car into four men and stabbing one, all because they were visibly identifiable as Orthodox Jews.

• He is charged with five counts of violating the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and one count of carjacking. Marsh faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and substantial fines.  Read More

Mississippi Man Faces Hate Crime Charges for Damage to Satanic Temple Statue

• Michael Cassidy from Mississippi was charged with a felony hate crime for destroying Satanic Temple statue at Iowa Capitol.

• Initially charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal mischief, Cassidy’s sentence was upgraded due to the act's religious targeting.  Read More

Palestinian Migrant Arrested for Beating NY Homeowner 

• A self-described Palestinian migrant from northern Africa stole a pro-Israel flag from a Long Island porch — then assaulted the homeowner who tried to stop him.

• The accused later allegedly told the police that he hated Israeli Jews and said, “If I see the flag of the people that killed my people, we will have a problem.”

• The attack was captured on video by the homeowner's security camera.  Read More

  School Threats

Lilly Whitworth, 19 - Elbert County Sheriff via New York Post screenshot

Teen Sentenced to Six Years for Planned Mass Shooting

• Lilly Whitworth, a 19-year-old transgender teenager from Colorado, has been sentenced to six years for planning mass shootings at Colorado schools.

• Whitworth pleaded guilty to second-degree assault; initial charges included attempted murder.

• Detailed plans for 3D printing guns, shootings and bomb-making we're found in Whitworth’s journals. Authorities also discovered a four-page manifesto praising serial killer Ed Kemper and Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza.  Read More

California Father and Son Arrested for School Threat

• A father and his teenage son were arrested in San Diego, Calif., after a school shooting threat at Rancho Bernardo High School.

• The teenager, accused of making verbal threats, was booked into juvenile detention. The father faces charges for possessing illegal firearms, manufacturing assault weapons, and having a destructive device.

• A search at their home revealed multiple untraceable "ghost guns" and assault weapons.  Read More

Juvenile Charged After Making School Threat

• A juvenile student at Sullivan Heights Middle School, in Sullivan County, Tenn., was charged for making social media threats.
• Investigation by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office found no danger to students or staff at the school.  Read More

Hostile Foreign Influence Operations

Former Speaker of the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives for a classified, closed-door briefing about Hamas' attack on Israel in the Capitol on October 11, 2023 in Washington - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Nancy Pelosi Suggests Foreign Influence Behind Anti-Israel Activism

• Nancy Pelosi suggested some U.S. anti-Israel activism may be linked to foreign influence by Russia and China.

• Pelosi called for an FBI investigation into the potential Russian funding and influence in American calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

• Her remarks, implying some activists could be Russian agents, drew criticism from advocacy groups and political observers as unsubstantiated smears.  Read More

3 Indicted in Murder-For-Hire Scheme Against Iranian Dissidents

• An Iranian and two Canadian nationals, Naji Sharifi Zindashti, 49, Damion Patrick John Ryan, 43, and Adam Richard Pearson, 29, were charged with conspiracy in a murder-for-hire plot targeting two Maryland residents.
• The plot involved using encrypted messaging to recruit and plan the murders, believed to be directed against Iranian dissidents in the U.S.
• The U.S. Treasury Department has taken action against the Iranian-based criminal network involved, targeting their activities in the U.S.  Read More

Former CIA Officer Sentenced for Espionage and Child Pornography

• Joshua Adam Schulte, a former CIA officer, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for espionage and child pornography charges.
• His crimes included the largest data breach in CIA history and transmission of stolen information to WikiLeaks.
• The leaked data, known as Vault 7 and Vault 8, significantly compromised U.S. national security and foreign intelligence operations.
• Schulte was also found guilty of collecting tens of thousands of videos and images of child sexual abuse materials.  Read More

Government Disrupts Chinese Hacking of Critical Infrastructure

• The U.S. government disrupted a botnet used by Chinese state-sponsored hackers to target U.S. critical infrastructure.
• The botnet comprised hijacked U.S.-based small office/home office (SOHO) routers infected with "KV Botnet" malware.  Read More

Chinese Nationals Charged With Illegal Smuggling of Electronic Components to Iran

• Four Chinese nationals were indicted for smuggling U.S.-origin electronic components to Iran, including Iranian military affiliates.
• The components are potentially used in military applications like UAVs and ballistic missile systems.
• The scheme involved front companies in China to evade U.S. sanctions and export control laws.  Read More

Research and Trends in Extremism

Photoillustration - Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Militant Jihadists Groups Revitalizing Crypto Crowdsourcing

• Militant jihadist groups are revitalizing crowdfunding through crypto donations amid the Israeli-Hamas conflict.

• Groups like Al Qaeda and the Islamic State use cryptocurrencies to launder funds for their activities.

• The complexity of tracking these transactions challenges efforts to disrupt terrorist financial networks.  Read More

Dearborn Michigan Has Become Jihad Capital of America

• Almost immediately after Oct. 7, Dearborn residents were celebrating the horrific events of that day in pro-Hamas rallies and marches.

• Support for terrorism in Dearborn has long been a concern for U.S. counterterrorism officials. A 2001 Michigan State Police assessment submitted to the Justice Department after 9/11 called Dearborn “a major financial support center” and a “recruiting area and potential support base” for international terror groups, including possible sleeper cells.  Read More

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QUOTABLE 

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

- Frederick Douglass

NOTE TO OUR READERS: We have pulled out the salient points of the articles in this newsletter to keep you informed and focused on the most relevant, important and timely news in national security and extremism. While our national security experts stand behind the summary bullets and deem them trustworthy, Clarion Project does not endorse all the views expressed in the articles linked.