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New York Man Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A criminal complaint was filed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Syed Aman, a U.S. citizen and resident of Nassau County, New York, with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Aman was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK Airport) in Queens, New York, on Nov. 5 as he tried to board a flight to Doha, Qatar, from which he intended to ultimately travel to Syria to join ISIS. Aman’s initial appearance is scheduled for this afternoon.

As alleged in the complaint, throughout 2023 and 2024, Aman expressed his support for ISIS through social media posts in an online ISIS group forum, sent money to an individual he believed to be an ISIS operative that was intended to support ISIS’s efforts in Syria and made arrangements to travel to Syria to engage in jihad, or holy war, on behalf of ISIS.

Since the beginning of October, Aman has been in contact with a confidential human source (CHS) working with the FBI about Aman’s plan to join ISIS in Syria. Aman expressed that “jihad and hijrah,” referring to traveling to ISIS-controlled territory and waging war on ISIS’s behalf, are “the most important thing, more than anything else at the moment.” Aman shared with the CHS Aman’s hatred for “kuffar [non-believers] who deny the path of Allah.” Aman explained to the CHS, “[i]f you don’t kill them they will kill us and ruin the earth with decay.” During this same time period, Aman also posted on a social media platform his desire “to kill Americans” and wrote in a notebook his intent to study becoming a shaheed, or martyr on behalf of ISIS.

Aman made two attempts to book travel to the Middle East in late October 2024, but his purchases were blocked by his credit card company. On his third attempt, Aman was successful in booking a flight from JFK Airport to Bangladesh via Doha. Aman told the CHS that he intended to disembark from his flight in Qatar and to purchase a flight from Qatar to Turkey where he would seek to cross into Syria to join ISIS. Aman also stated that he would travel with a steel pen to defend himself if he were arrested and that he would attack law enforcement. A silver metal pen was found in Aman’s crossbody bag when he was arrested.

On Nov. 5, Aman traveled to JFK Airport for his flight to Qatar. After Aman had checked in, been processed through airport security and attempted to board his flight, he was arrested by the FBI.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York, and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells for the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Antoinette N. Rangel for the Eastern District of New York is prosecuting the case with assistance provided by Trial Attorney T.J. Reardon III of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Defense News: Navy Relieves Commanding Officer of Navy Leadership and Ethics Command San Diego

Source: United States Navy

Capt. Shawn T. Bailey, commander of Naval Ethics and Leadership Center, relieved Capt. Lester Brown, Jr., of his duties as NLEC San Diego’s commanding officer. Brown has been reassigned to Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Capt. Richard Zeber, from Naval Leadership and Ethics Center Newport, has been temporarily assigned to command of NLEC San Diego.

NLEC San Diego’s mission is to provide training and education for officers not yet in command as well as courses for the Navy’s enlisted leader development program.

Brown assumed command of NLEC San Diego in September 2022.

For additional questions, please contact the CHINFO News Desk, at chinfonewsdesk@us.navy.mil.

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Bank Manager Sentenced to Prison for Misusing Position to Steal Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars from Bank Customer

Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division

A former New York-based branch manager was sentenced yesterday to 13 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $208,938.68 in both restitution and forfeiture of criminal proceeds for misusing his position to steal approximately $208,938.68 from a customer’s accounts.

According to court documents and statements made in court, from January 2020 to April 2020, James Gomes, 43, of New York, used his position as a branch manager of an international financial institution to improperly access a customer’s accounts and to steal a total of approximately $208,938.68. Without authorization, Gomes linked his personal phone number to the customer’s accounts and enrolled the customer’s accounts in the bank’s online banking services. In March and April 2020, Gomes fraudulently transferred the customer’s funds to Gomes’ personal bank and investment accounts at other financial institutions. To cover up his scheme, Gomes created a fraudulent email address containing the customer’s name, which he used to engage in fictitious conversations with his own official bank email address to make it appear that the customer was communicating with him. Gomes continued the scheme even after the customer’s death on April 5, 2020.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General investigated the case, with assistance from the Morristown Police Department.

Trial Attorneys D. Zachary Adams and Chelsea R. Rooney of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark J. Pesce for the District of New Jersey prosecuted the case.

MLARS’ Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system. Since its creation in 2010, the Bank Integrity Unit has prosecuted financial institutions for violations of the BSA, money laundering, sanctions, and other laws, imposing total penalties of over $25 billion.

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Defense News: VCNO Visits Shipyards, Navy Leadership in Northeast Focused on Readiness

Source: United States Navy

Kilby spent time at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, including time aboard USS Hartford (SSN 768), which is undergoing an engineering overhaul at the facility, engaging with the submarine’s leadership and the crew.

Electric Boat is the prime contractor and lead design yard for the Navy’s Virginia-class fast-attack submarines. Following Electric Boat, Kilby toured Naval Submarine New London and participated in a ribbon cutting at a new AI & Machine Learning Lab for the Undersea Warfighting Development Center. UWDC leads undersea superiority and enables the combat lethality and desired effects generated from, and within, the Undersea Domain.

SUBASE New London supports 16 fast attack submarines and is home to more than 70 tenant commands and their 9,500 active duty, reserve and civilian personnel. Kilby spent time at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine, with shipyard and labor leadership, civilian personnel and Sailors assigned to the base and submarine crews. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is America’s leader for attack submarine maintenance, repair, and modernization.

Kilby ended his Northeast visit in Bath, Maine, with General Dynamics Bath Iron Works. The shipyard specializes in the design, building and support of the Navy’s surface combatants and is the lead designer and builder of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Kilby reviewed operations with the leadership of Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Bath, the Navy’s on-site technical, contractual and business authority overseeing the design and construction of six ship classes at three private shipyards including Bath Iron Works.

During his visits, Kilby discussed Quality of Service for the Sailors assigned to the base and shipyard workers; including childcare, parking, quality food options and unaccompanied housing. Kilby also discussed the important role shipyards play in executing the CNO’s Navigation Plan 2024.

“We should all see ourselves, uniformed and civilian, in CNO’s NAVPLAN,” said Kilby. “Every one of us plays a part, large or small, in the execution – whether from taking care our people to getting our ships out of maintenance on time – we all have a role.” While at Bath Iron Works, he addressed the crew of the future USS John Basilone (DDG 122) prior to the ship’s sail away.

“You should all be extraordinarily proud to be a part of the namesake John Basilone,” said Kilby. “He was a true American hero, a relentlessly brave Marine and warfighter and I’m looking forward to seeing this ship bear his name and welcome you into the fleet next month.”

A sail away is a ship’s final departure from the construction yard for its homeport or commissioning site. It signifies the end of the new construction period and the beginning of its life preparing to perform the mission it was designed to undertake.

The future USS John Basilone (DDG 122) is a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and named for Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, who received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. He was killed in action during the February 1945 invasion of Iwo Jima and was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. Basilone is the only enlisted Marine to be honored with both the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor. The ship is scheduled for commissioning in New York City, Nov. 9, 2024.

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Defense News: USS Emory S. Land visits Republic of Palau

Source: United States Navy

“It was only a brief visit, but an unforgettable one,” said Capt. Brent Spillner, commanding officer of Emory S. Land. “Both the hands-on WWII history and the islands’ breathtaking natural beauty left an indelible impression on us, and we truly appreciate the hospitality of the Republic of Palau.”
While in port, the crew had the opportunity to enjoy many once-in-a-lifetime tours on the island of Malakal. Emory S. Land Sailors had the chance to kayak, scuba dive, and snorkel through the nearby waters, witnessing many of the beautiful aquatic ecosystems the Republic of Palau had to offer. The crew was also given the opportunity to immerse themselves in the islands’ history with a kayak tour to Ulong Island to view the ancient Palauan pictographs on display, as well as the island of Peleliu, one of the most well-preserved World War II battlefields in the world.
“My experience during the Peleliu tour was amazing,” said Chief Machinery Repairman Rene Antonio Gomez, assigned to the ship. “The Marine Corps Engineer Detachment of the Republic of Palau did an excellent job of taking us around the whole island of Peleliu, breaking down the historical significance in each area, such as the ‘Orange Beach Cemetery’ and the famous ‘Bloody Nose Ridge’.”
Previously, the ship had returned to its homeport of Apra Harbor, Guam, Sept. 27, after completing seven successful port calls in Australia.
Emory S. Land is on deployment supporting the U.S. 7th Fleet, the U.S. Navy’s largest forward deployed numbered fleet, operating with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Emory S. Land provides expeditionary intermediate-level maintenance, services, and logistics support to deployed submarines.
Guam is home to the U.S. Navy’s only submarine tenders, USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) and USS Frank Cable (AS 40), as well as Los Angeles-class attack submarines. The submarine tenders provide maintenance, hotel services and logistical support to submarines and surface ships in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The submarines and tenders are maintained as part of the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed submarine force and are capable of meeting global operational requirements.

For more information about USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), visit us at our official website at https://www.csp.navy.mil/emorysland or on our social media outlets on Facebook at
https://www.facebok.com/EmorySLand or on X @EmorySLand. For more news from USS Emory S. Land (AS 39), visit at https://www.navy.mil.
Are you interested in taking orders to Guam? Want to learn more about the duty station and life on our island? For more information, check out the ‘Go Guam!’ website at http://www.csp.navy.mil/go-guam/ and download the ‘1st Fifteen’ checklist.