American Sniper Who Joined ISIS Arrested and Charged!

With regards to the case, these Twitter users are asking a serious question, especially since Omar defended and pleaded for lighter sentences for a Somali ISIS recruiter back in 2016:

Here's further in-depth details of the American ISIS sniper that is facing the consequences of his betryal of his home nation in favor of joining the evil organization dedicated to terrorism, straight from The United States Justice Department:

A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in the Eastern District of New York charging Ruslan Maratovich Asainov, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Kazakhstan with providing and attempting to provide material support, including training, services and personnel, to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339B.  Asainov was detained overseas by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and recently transferred into FBI custody.  Asainov’s initial appearance is scheduled for this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Steven M. Gold at the United States Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York.

The charges were announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers, U.S. Attorney Richard P. Donoghue for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Director Mike McGarrity for the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office FBI and Commissioner James P. O’Neill of the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

As alleged in the complaint and other court filings, the defendant resided in Brooklyn, New York.  In December 2013, the defendant traveled to Istanbul, Turkey, which is a common transit point to obtain entry into Syria.  He subsequently entered Syria, joined ISIS, and became a sniper for the terrorist organization.  Over time, the defendant rose through the ranks to become an ISIS “emir” in charge of training other ISIS members in the use of weapons.  He also attempted to recruit another individual to travel from the United States to Syria to fight for ISIS. 

In March 2015, Asainov asked a confidential informant to send him approximately $2,800 so that he could purchase a scope for his rifle.  Asainov subsequently sent the confidential informant two photographs depicting the defendant holding an assault rifle fitted with a scope. He messaged one associate exclaiming, in reference to ISIS, “we are the worst terrorist organization in the world that has ever existed” and stating that he wished to die on the battlefield.

“The United States is committed to holding accountable those who have left this country in order to fight for ISIS,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers.  “As alleged in the court filings, Asainov traveled overseas, joined ISIS, and became a fighter and a sniper for the terrorist organization.  He was ultimately detained overseas, turned over to the FBI, and will now face justice in an American courtroom.  We hope countries around the world, including our European allies and partners, will likewise repatriate and prosecute their own citizens for traveling to support ISIS.”

“The defendant, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Brooklyn, turned his back on the country that took him in and joined ISIS, serving its violent ends in Syria and attempting to recruit others to its cause,” stated U.S. Attorney Donoghue.  “Our counterterrorism prosecutors and law enforcement partners will continue working relentlessly to hold accountable those like the defendant who have supported ISIS’s violent agenda.” 

ABC News also had the following to say about the traitor:

An American citizen who allegedly traveled to Syria and became a sniper and weapons instructor for ISIS has been charged by federal authorities with supporting the terrorist organization, prosecutors said Friday.

Ruslan Maratovich Asainov, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Kazakhstan, was charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in Brooklyn federal court.

“The defendant, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Brooklyn, turned his back on the country that took him in and joined ISIS, serving its violent ends in Syria and attempting to recruit others to its cause,” stated United States Attorney Richard Donoghue for the Eastern District of New York. “Our counterterrorism prosecutors and law enforcement partners will continue working relentlessly to hold accountable those like the defendant who have supported ISIS’s violent agenda.”

According to the unsealed complaint, Asainov, 42, first traveled to Turkey in late 2013. From there, he entered into Syria and allegedly enlisted to join ISIS as a fighter, according to the charges.

NBC New York went into deeper details of his court appearance when he was brought back to the U.S.:

Asainov was detained in Syria and later transferred to the FBI, which brought him back to New York City Thursday. He appeared in federal court in Brooklyn Friday, wearing a white shirt, sweatpants, socks and sandals. 

The Friday proceeding lasted under 10 minutes. On multiple occasions, Asainov only shook his head when asked a question by the judge, who would tell him to answer out loud. When asked why he wouldn't speak, defense attorney Susan Kellman said her client "answers to a higher authority," clarifying after that referred to Allah.

According to the complaint, Asainov, who was born in Kazakhstan, allegedly asked a confidential informant in March 2015 to send him around $2,800 so he could buy a scope for his rifle. He sent two pictures showing him holding an assault rifle fitted with a scope and later messaged one associate, "We are the worst terrorist organization in the world that has ever existed," court papers say.

Asainov allegedly said he wanted to die on the battlefield. Federal prosecutors say they'll ask a judge to remand him, saying in a detention memo, "There are no conditions or combination of conditions that would reasonably safeguard the community or prevent the defendant from fleeing this prosecution." 

Asainov faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the attempted terror support charge described in the complaint -- and court papers say more charges are expected to be filed to reflect the "full scope" of his alleged conduct.

Kellman does not believe that Asainov has any family in the United States.

What do you think should be the penalty for the American man who joined and fought for ISIS?

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