The FBI has taken down two suspected terrorists in Ohio, who were plotting unrelated attacks in the Toledo area.
One is reported to be an ISIS sympathizer looking to kill Jews. The other, a self- described anarchist who the Feds say was obsessed with mass murders. Both were U.S. Citizens in their 20’s who the Feds say wanted to kill as many innocent people as they possibly could.
In fact, 21-year-old Damon Joseph of Holland, Ohio, told investigators he wanted to recreate October's shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, where 11 people were murdered.
It was the deadliest attack on Jews ever in the U.S.
At a news conference with law enforcement on Monday, FBI Special Agent Jeff Fortunato said, “When queried by undercover employees whether Joseph felt hate for the people in the United States, Joseph replied ‘Oh yeah, definitely the Gays, Christians, the Catholics the Jews, you name it.’”
A convert to Islam, the Feds found Joseph on social media, pledging his allegiance to ISIS and creating videos to attract recruits.
During their eight month investigation, Joseph confessed his desire to shoot up two area synagogues and kill a Rabbi, because as with Pittsburgh, he said the Jews deserve what's coming to them.
An undisclosed criminal past kept him from legally buying weapons, which is why he met up Friday evening with an undercover agent posing as a Jihadist.
And it's when he was arrested for attempting to provide support and resources to a foreign terrorist group.
U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said, “He selected firearms…firearms that he handpicked because he believed they would deliver the maximum amount of damage and destruction.”
Federal authorities say inflicting maximum damage, like in the 2015 Charleston church shooting where 9 worshipers were murdered, was the goal of 23-year-old Elizabeth Lecron of Toledo. She was arrested Monday morning in an unrelated terrorism case.
Like Joseph, Lecron was also active on social media, but it was a tip from a resident who said she spoke about wanting to commit violence of any kind, and she had the means to do it.
During a search of Lecron’s home, Special agent Fortunato said, “An AK-47, a shotgun, multiple handguns, a large quantity of ammunition and a bag containing numerous ends caps were found.” They also found a journal which detailed her plans.
Federal authorities say she wasn't sure where she was going to use the weapons, but mentioned shooting up a local bar which she had cased.
In addition to the firearms, we’re told Lecron also bought two pounds of gunpowder and several pounds of screws which she was going to use to build a pipe bomb, possibly to blow up a Toledo area pipeline.
She was also allegedly targeting her work place, believing that they were polluting the river behind the building.
She's charged with transporting materials for explosives, to cause harm.
Herdman said, “The cases demonstrate that terrorism comes in all forms. Terrorists don’t follow just one playbook. They don’t all have religious motivations for what they do.”
In court on Monday, it was revealed that Lecron was taking medication for mental health issues.
Both suspects waived their rights to a preliminary hearing, which means the cases go straight to the Grand Jury to see if there's enough evidence to indict them on these crimes.
If convicted, Joseph faces up to 20 years in prison. Lecron faces up to 10 years behind bars.