A guy from New Mexico was detained today on suspicion of trying to disrupt, influence, and hinder at least one official procedure as well as attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
On August 23, Herman Leyvoune Wilson, 45, of Albuquerque, also known as Bilal Mu’Min Abdullah, was charged by a federal grand jury. In the meanwhile, Wilson will be detained until his arraignment on August 30.
The indictment and accompanying court documents claim that Wilson sought to provide resources and material support to ISIS, a group that has been classified as a foreign terrorist organization, between Jan. 23, 2020, and Nov. 20, 2021. Wilson reportedly tried to establish a “Islamic State Center” in New Mexico that would teach ISIS doctrine, provide instruction in martial arts and tactical tactics, and operate as a safe haven for those getting ready to go and fight for ISIS both here and overseas.
Wilson is also accused with trying to obstruct, influence, and hinder at least one official procedure between September 19, 2020, and October 2020 by ordering and inciting the destruction and concealing of data by shutting down an online platform. Wilson is accused of aiding in the management of an online forum used to spread ISIS ideology, recruit followers, and discuss terrorist actions in the US and abroad from May 2019 until September 2020. Wilson is also said to have advertised the Islamic State Center on the internet and sought out possible members who shared his views.
Kristopher Matthews and Jaylin Molina were detained in September 2020 for aiding ISIS financially, and they subsequently entered guilty pleas in the Western District of Texas. Matthews and Molina acknowledged that Wilson radicalized them to embrace the ideologies of ISIS and that they would not have committed the atrocities without Wilson’s influence. Wilson reportedly gave the order to internet platform users to remove any proof of Matthews and Molina’s usage of the group after they were detained. In July 2022, Matthews and Molina received jail terms of 20 and 18 years, respectively.
Wilson may spend as much as 20 years in jail if found guilty on all counts.
The statement was made by Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez, and Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The Albuquerque Field Office of the FBI looked into this matter. Trial attorneys Frank Russo, Jessica Fender, and John Cella of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section have been of great help to Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jon K. Stanford, Nicholas Mote, and Tavo Hall in the prosecution of the case.
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