[JNS] Ammaad Akhtar, 33, is accused of trying to give money, guns and ammunition to someone he thought was part of the terror group, and of making antisemitic threats.
The LinkedIn profile of Ammaad Akhtar identifies him as a resident of Stockton, Calif., and a "mechanical engineering graduate" who is "outgoing and friendly," a "great team player" and a "great leader."
A very different picture emerges about Akhtar, who remains listed as a hazardous substances engineer at the California Environmental Protection Agency, in the criminal complaint accusing him of trying to give money, guns and ammunition to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, and of threatening to kill Jews.
The 33-year-old, who, according to his LinkedIn profile, is a 2023 graduate of the University of the Pacific, gave the money and weapons to an undercover law-enforcement officer he thought was an ISIS member in Iraq, the U.S. Justice Department said on Tuesday. He faces up to 20 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California confirmed to JNS that the suspect is a state EPA employee. (The phone line listed for Akhtar at his state office appeared to be disconnected.)
A California EPA spokesperson told JNS that "we became aware of this situation after the arrest and intend to fully cooperate with the federal investigation."
|
