The Cleveland Division of the FBI has announced the arrest of a North Carolina man who had formerly expressed support for ISIS.
According to a news release, Erick Jamal Hendricks, 35, of Charlotte, North Carolina, attempted to recruit people to train for and conduct terrorist attacks in the United State on behalf of ISIS.
Hendricks was arrested in Charlotte Thursday morning.
Officials say Hendricks attempted to recruit a person in Ohio. An unnamed subject was arrested for attempting to buy an AK-47 and ammunition illegally from an undercover officer in Ohio.
The unnamed man had pledged allegiance to ISIS and expressed interest in executing terror attacks in the U.S. on social media.
The unnamed man told authorities that Hendricks contacted him via social media in Spring 2015, alleging that Hendricks wanted to meet in person and wanted to "get brothers to train together," the news release says.
Hendricks allegedly tested the unnamed man of his religious knowledge and his commitment to jihad. Hendricks also allegedly told another individual he wanted to create a sleeper cell in which to train and plan attacks on U.S. soil. He said possible intended targets were military members and organizers of the "Draw Prophet Mohammad" contest. He claimed to have 10 members agree to join his group, the news release states.
The unnamed man told authorities he suspected that Hendricks and "his brothers in Texas and Mexico" may have been responsible for an attempted terrorist attack in Garland, Texas. The plot was prevented by authorities. The unnamed man said he avoided social media following the foiled attack to avoid being flagged by authorities.
On April 23, 2015, Hendricks used social media to contact Elton Simpson and Nadir Hamid Soofi, two men responsible for the attack on the First Annual Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest in Garland, Texas. Simpson and Soofi opened fire, wounding a security guard, before police shot and killed both men.
Officials say Hendricks corresponded with an undercover FBI agent about the Garland attack and encouraged the undercover agent to attend the attack while asking questions regarding the event's security.