A South Carolina man has pleaded guilty to plotting “Netflix worthy” terror attacks inspired by ISIS targeting Trump Tower in New York and the White House, federal prosecutors said.
Kristopher Sean Matthews, aka Ali Jibreel, admitted Tuesday in a San Antonio courtroom to conspiring to provide material support to the foreign terrorist organization after discussing possible sites for US terror attacks, the Department of Justice said.
Matthews, 34, of Elgin, said he colluded with a Texas man, Jaylyn Christopher Molina, aka Abdur Rahim, over a period of months on a plot to share info on how to make bombs for domestic and foreign attacks on behalf of ISIS, as well as to radicalize and recruit others.
The duo, who were arrested in September, eyed Trump Tower, the White House and the New York Stock Exchange as potential targets.
Matthews also suggested to “hit government centers” rather than locations like malls “where innocent children are,” court documents show.
If the pair “accomplished the mission,” Matthews said, the attacks would grant them “rock star status,” according to a 14-page criminal complaint filed in US District Court for the Western District of Texas in San Antonio.
“This could be Netflix worthy,” Matthews wrote in a secretive chat group where FBI investigators said they pledged their loyalty to ISIS, court documents show.
The pair also discussed potential attacks at the headquarters of the CIA, the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to the complaint.
Molina and Matthews were indicted by a grand jury on Oct. 14 on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Matthews, who remains in federal custody, faces up to 20 in prison when he’s sentenced on March 4.
Molina, of Cost, Texas, also remains in federal custody and faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted, federal prosecutors said.
