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Published On: Thu, Aug 4th, 2016

North Carolina man, Erick Hendricks, for links to Islamic State, attack on Texas ‘Draw the Prophet Muhammad’ cartoon contest

Federal officials arrested a man in North Carolina who plotted to create an Islamic State sleeper cell in the U.S. and was in close contact with the pair of Texas extremists who plotted an attack on the “Draw the Prophet Muhammad” cartoon contest in 2015. The feds arrested Erick Jamal Hendricks on Thursday and now faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted on charges of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS.

Hendricks, 35, worked with a confidential informant who was arrested in the spring of 2015 when he tried to buy an assault rifle and ammunition from an undercover officer, investigators said.

Hendricks allegedly also claimed to have “brothers” in Texas and Mexico. The “brothers” were Elton Simpson and Nadir Hamid Soofi, two ISIS-inspired extremists who attacked the event in Garland, Texas, in May 2015 were killed by an off-duty police officer. An unarmed security guard was shot in the ankle.

Erick Hendricks

Erick Hendricks

“If you see that pig [contest organizer Pamela Geller], make your ‘voice’ heard against her,” Hendricks allegedly told the undercover agent.

Shortly after Hendricks requested information on the size of the gathering, the police presence and whether “snipers” were stationed, Simpson and Soofi drove up to start their terror attempt before the officer shot them.

Hendricks is the 100th person charged in an ISIS-related case under federal law since 2014.

WSOCTV Published details directly from the arrest complaint:

According to the complaint, on April 16, 2015, Hendricks instructed the FBI employee to download the document “GPS for the Ghuraba in the U.S.” which included a section entitled “Final Advice” which advocated that “brothers and sisters” should not allow themselves to go to jail.

This section also allegedly encouraged Muslims to die as a martyr, to “boobie trap your homes,” to “lay in wait for them” and to “never leave your home without your AK-47 or M16.”

Hendricks allegedly told another person that his goal was to create a sleeper cell to be trained and housed at a secure compound that would conduct attacks in the United States. He mentioned that potential targets included military members whose information had been released by ISIS and the woman who organized the “Draw Prophet Mohammad contest,” and he claimed to have 10 members signed up for his group, according to allegations in the complaint.

On April 23, 2015, Hendricks allegedly used social media to contact Elton Simpson, who, along with Nadir Hamid Soofi, was inspired by ISIS and launched the attack on the “First Annual Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest” in Garland.

Simpson and Soofi opened fire, wounding a security guard, before Garland police returned fire and killed them both.

According to the complaint, Hendricks also connected the FBI employee with Simpson via social media, communicated with the FBI employee about the contest in Garland and directed the FBI employee to go to the contest.

Hendricks allegedly said: “If you see that pig (meaning the organizer of the contest) make your ‘voice’ heard against her.”

photo/Islamic State flag

photo/Islamic State flag

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About the Author

- Roxanne "Butter" Bracco began with the Dispatch as Pittsburgh Correspondent, but will be providing reports and insights from Washington DC, Maryland and the surrounding region. Contact Roxie aka "Butter" at theglobaldispatch@gmail ATTN: Roxie or Butter Bracco

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