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New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Pledging to Join ISIS New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty to Pledging to Join ISIS
(35 minutes later)
A 21-year-old New Jersey man pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to planning to travel abroad with other men from New York and New Jersey to join the Islamic State.A 21-year-old New Jersey man pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to planning to travel abroad with other men from New York and New Jersey to join the Islamic State.
The man, Samuel Rahamin Topaz, who his lawyer said had been raised by a Catholic mother and a Jewish father, pleaded guilty to conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization and remained held without bail.The man, Samuel Rahamin Topaz, who his lawyer said had been raised by a Catholic mother and a Jewish father, pleaded guilty to conspiring to support a foreign terrorist organization and remained held without bail.
Mr. Topaz, of Fort Lee, was arrested in June, around the time a small network of men he was accused of associating with were charged with pledging allegiance to the Islamic State or taking preliminary steps to planning attacks.Mr. Topaz, of Fort Lee, was arrested in June, around the time a small network of men he was accused of associating with were charged with pledging allegiance to the Islamic State or taking preliminary steps to planning attacks.
Mr. Topaz, who is scheduled to be sentenced in November, faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. But his lawyer, Ian Hirsch, said Mr. Topaz had planned to cooperate with the government in telling them about the other men who were arrested in the investigation.Mr. Topaz, who is scheduled to be sentenced in November, faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. But his lawyer, Ian Hirsch, said Mr. Topaz had planned to cooperate with the government in telling them about the other men who were arrested in the investigation.
Mr. Hirsch portrayed his client on Wednesday as a naïve man who grew up confused about his faith and, starting in high school, fell under the sway of friends with extreme views.Mr. Hirsch portrayed his client on Wednesday as a naïve man who grew up confused about his faith and, starting in high school, fell under the sway of friends with extreme views.
“He was lost between the two,” Mr. Hirsch said of Mr. Topaz’s relationship with his parents, speaking after a hearing in Federal District Court in Newark. “He chose something different.”“He was lost between the two,” Mr. Hirsch said of Mr. Topaz’s relationship with his parents, speaking after a hearing in Federal District Court in Newark. “He chose something different.”
His father, David Topaz, a clerk at a pizza restaurant who is from Israel, was charged in New Jersey in 2009 with transporting stolen prescription medication with a wholesale value of around $800,000. He pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods, and was released from prison in July 2014, after serving just over a year.His father, David Topaz, a clerk at a pizza restaurant who is from Israel, was charged in New Jersey in 2009 with transporting stolen prescription medication with a wholesale value of around $800,000. He pleaded guilty to receiving stolen goods, and was released from prison in July 2014, after serving just over a year.
He was detained for another 14 months by the immigration authorities after his release because he had never become an American citizen, said Mr. Hirsch, who had also defended the father.He was detained for another 14 months by the immigration authorities after his release because he had never become an American citizen, said Mr. Hirsch, who had also defended the father.
Mr. Hirsch said Samuel’s mother, Ruth Topaz, a schoolteacher, was a “very, very Catholic” woman from the Dominican Republic.Mr. Hirsch said Samuel’s mother, Ruth Topaz, a schoolteacher, was a “very, very Catholic” woman from the Dominican Republic.
David Topaz’s absence “had a significant effect on his son,” Mr. Hirsch said, describing how the younger Mr. Topaz had started bringing ill-intentioned people to his home.David Topaz’s absence “had a significant effect on his son,” Mr. Hirsch said, describing how the younger Mr. Topaz had started bringing ill-intentioned people to his home.
Efforts to reach Mr. Topaz’s parents by phone and online on Wednesday were not successful.Efforts to reach Mr. Topaz’s parents by phone and online on Wednesday were not successful.
Mr. Topaz was drawn to Islam, and Mr. Hirsch said he had learned the religion thoroughly and had prayed five times a day.Mr. Topaz was drawn to Islam, and Mr. Hirsch said he had learned the religion thoroughly and had prayed five times a day.
A high school friend introduced him to a small circle of people with more fundamentalist religious beliefs, Mr. Hirsch said.A high school friend introduced him to a small circle of people with more fundamentalist religious beliefs, Mr. Hirsch said.
“He was influenced by the wrong people,” Mr. Hirsch said. “There’s a good side of Islam and a bad side. I think he got introduced to the bad side. I think he understands that now.”“He was influenced by the wrong people,” Mr. Hirsch said. “There’s a good side of Islam and a bad side. I think he got introduced to the bad side. I think he understands that now.”
A criminal complaint said Mr. Topaz had made plans to travel to Turkey and then join the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS and ISIL. The complaint said he had told law enforcement officials that he had sympathized with the group.A criminal complaint said Mr. Topaz had made plans to travel to Turkey and then join the Islamic State, which is also known as ISIS and ISIL. The complaint said he had told law enforcement officials that he had sympathized with the group.
Mr. Hirsch said some of Mr. Topaz’s associates had talked about attacking the White House if they failed to make it to Syria or Iraq. “He heard that talk,” Mr. Hirsch said, “but he had nothing to do with that.”Mr. Hirsch said some of Mr. Topaz’s associates had talked about attacking the White House if they failed to make it to Syria or Iraq. “He heard that talk,” Mr. Hirsch said, “but he had nothing to do with that.”
The criminal complaint, prepared by a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said a friend of Mr. Topaz’s had told the authorities that several people had been “trying to recruit” Mr. Topaz by “preying” on his insecurities. The criminal complaint, prepared by a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said someone had told the authorities that several people had been “trying to recruit” Mr. Topaz by “preying” on his insecurities.
In a statement on Wednesday, Paul J. Fishman, the United States attorney for New Jersey, said, “The crimes Samuel Topaz admitted today threatened the safety of Americans here and abroad.” He added, “Our efforts to cut off the flow of fighters and resources to known terrorist organizations will not stop with his guilty plea.”In a statement on Wednesday, Paul J. Fishman, the United States attorney for New Jersey, said, “The crimes Samuel Topaz admitted today threatened the safety of Americans here and abroad.” He added, “Our efforts to cut off the flow of fighters and resources to known terrorist organizations will not stop with his guilty plea.”