US Air Force Vet Tairod Pugh Charged With Attempting to Join ISIS Terror Organization
A U.S. Air Force veteran has been charged with attempting to travel to Syria to join and aid terror group ISIS, federal authorities revealed on Tuesday.
"Born and raised in the United States, [Tairod Nathan Webster] Pugh allegedly turned his back on his country and attempted to travel to Syria in order to join a terrorist organization," U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said in a news release, according to Fox News.
Pugh, 47, is alleged to have attempted to provide material support and resources to a terrorist organization sometime last year, an indictment filed in U.S. District Court in New York said. Officials added that he also destroyed four thumb drives with files and photos that could have been used in a grand jury investigation.
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Pugh is believed to have traveled from Egypt to Turkey while trying to reach Syria, after losing his job as an airplane mechanic based in the Middle East. On Jan 10, he is alleged to have reached Turkey, but was denied entry and sent back to Egypt. After officials found the damaged thumb drives and an iPod device that had been wiped clean of data, he was deported back to the U.S.
ISIS, which has captured a number of cities across Iraq and Syria, has been luring in significant numbers of foreign fighters to join its jihadi cause. U.S. intelligence officials said in February that at least 150 American citizens are among 20,000 foreigners in total who've attempted or are still trying to join ISIS.
The U.S. and a broad team of international allies have struck back against ISIS targets with airstrikes, but have not sent ground troops into the region.
The Washington Post pointed out that Pugh is the first American military veteran known to have attempted to join ISIS, though since 2014 the Justice Department has charged about two dozen people.
"We will continue to vigorously prosecute extremists, whether based here or abroad, to stop them before they are able to threaten the United States and its allies," Lynch added.
Pugh's attorney, Michael Schneider, said that his client will plead not guilty in court on Wednesday, but declined further comment.
Capt. Brooke L. Brzozowske of the U.S. Air Force revealed that Pugh was an avionics guidance and control systems specialist who served from October 1986 until October 1990, and left as an airman first class.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin said that U.S. officials will continue watching closely for anyone attempting to support terrorist organizations.
"Pugh, an American citizen and former member of our military, allegedly abandoned his allegiance to the United States and sought to provide material support to ISI[S]," Carlin said. "Identifying and bringing to justice individuals who provide or attempt to provide material support to terrorists is a key priority of the National Security Division."
