DENVER — A suburban teenager who practiced shooting, sought military
training and hoped to join violent jihad against Americans was arrested
on the jetway as she tried to board a plane on a one-way trip to the
Middle East, court documents show.
Shannon Conley, 19, was arrested in April at Denver International Airport by federal investigators who said they repeatedly warned that her actions were illegal. Court documents detailing the case against the teen were unsealed this week, and paint a picture of a self-isolated woman who fell in love with a Tunisian man online, converted to Islam after reading about it on the Internet and became obsessed with religious war.
FBI agents said Conley, a certified nurse's aid, sought and practiced military tactics so she could fight on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which recently seized portions of Iraq. She also showed them a book detailing guerrilla warfare tactics and said she could carry out jihad in America.
"Conley believed she, as a Muslim, needed to marry young and be confrontational in her support of Islam," a U.S. anti-terrorism agent wrote in an arrest affidavit. "Special Agent Khomssi admonished Conley twice in the conversation that travel with intent to wage jihad may be illegal and result in her arrest."
According to court documents:
• Conley first drew attention after she began loitering around Faith Bible Chapel in her hometown of Arvada, Colo., in the fall of 2013. The church was the site of a fatal shooting in 2007, and the pastor told federal agents that Conley was diagramming the facility and became confrontational. "When asked why she went to FBC for the last two months, Conley initially responded that, 'I hate those people' ... and ... reasoned that, 'If they think I'm a terrorist, I'll give them something to think I am.' "
• Federal officials met with or spoke to Conley eight times after that initial interview, asking her whether she really intended to harm Americans and suggesting she ought to consider aiding a non-profit such as the Red Crescent, which is the equivalent of the Red Cross. "Conley responded that humanitarian work is not an option because it does nothing to solve the problem. ... Conley stated that jihad must be waged to protect Muslim nations. Conley said she needed to go overseas to be trained in jihad, but did not need to be overseas to wage jihad."
• Conley in February 2014 underwent training in Texas with the U.S. Army Explorers, a youth organization offering military training for teens, and also practiced shooting rifles at a local range. Conley showed interviewers a book called Al-Qaida's Doctrine for Insurgency: Abd Al-Aziz Al-Muqrin's A Practical Course for Guerrilla War by Norman Cigar.
Conley's parents told agents they had grown alarmed by her views on Islam, which were "far more extreme" than they believed, and refused to let them see what Internet sites she had been visiting.
Her parents also told agents Conley sought but didn't get their permission to marry a Tunisian man fighting with ISIS in Syria, whom she had met online. Her parents found her one-way ticket to Turkey on April 1, and Conley was arrested April 8 as she tried to board a plane from Denver to Frankfurt on the first leg of a trip that would have ended at a Turkish airport three hours' drive from the Syrian border.
In her parents' house, agents said they found materials about jihad and al-Qaeda. They also reported recovering CD/DVDs labeled "Anwar al-Awlaki" — a former Colorado resident and dissident-turned-Islamic militant who was killed by 2011 drone strike in Yemen.
Conley remains in federal custody and is charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a terrorist organization. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
Shannon Conley, 19, was arrested in April at Denver International Airport by federal investigators who said they repeatedly warned that her actions were illegal. Court documents detailing the case against the teen were unsealed this week, and paint a picture of a self-isolated woman who fell in love with a Tunisian man online, converted to Islam after reading about it on the Internet and became obsessed with religious war.
FBI agents said Conley, a certified nurse's aid, sought and practiced military tactics so she could fight on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, which recently seized portions of Iraq. She also showed them a book detailing guerrilla warfare tactics and said she could carry out jihad in America.
"Conley believed she, as a Muslim, needed to marry young and be confrontational in her support of Islam," a U.S. anti-terrorism agent wrote in an arrest affidavit. "Special Agent Khomssi admonished Conley twice in the conversation that travel with intent to wage jihad may be illegal and result in her arrest."
According to court documents:
• Conley first drew attention after she began loitering around Faith Bible Chapel in her hometown of Arvada, Colo., in the fall of 2013. The church was the site of a fatal shooting in 2007, and the pastor told federal agents that Conley was diagramming the facility and became confrontational. "When asked why she went to FBC for the last two months, Conley initially responded that, 'I hate those people' ... and ... reasoned that, 'If they think I'm a terrorist, I'll give them something to think I am.' "
• Federal officials met with or spoke to Conley eight times after that initial interview, asking her whether she really intended to harm Americans and suggesting she ought to consider aiding a non-profit such as the Red Crescent, which is the equivalent of the Red Cross. "Conley responded that humanitarian work is not an option because it does nothing to solve the problem. ... Conley stated that jihad must be waged to protect Muslim nations. Conley said she needed to go overseas to be trained in jihad, but did not need to be overseas to wage jihad."
• Conley in February 2014 underwent training in Texas with the U.S. Army Explorers, a youth organization offering military training for teens, and also practiced shooting rifles at a local range. Conley showed interviewers a book called Al-Qaida's Doctrine for Insurgency: Abd Al-Aziz Al-Muqrin's A Practical Course for Guerrilla War by Norman Cigar.
Conley's parents told agents they had grown alarmed by her views on Islam, which were "far more extreme" than they believed, and refused to let them see what Internet sites she had been visiting.
Her parents also told agents Conley sought but didn't get their permission to marry a Tunisian man fighting with ISIS in Syria, whom she had met online. Her parents found her one-way ticket to Turkey on April 1, and Conley was arrested April 8 as she tried to board a plane from Denver to Frankfurt on the first leg of a trip that would have ended at a Turkish airport three hours' drive from the Syrian border.
In her parents' house, agents said they found materials about jihad and al-Qaeda. They also reported recovering CD/DVDs labeled "Anwar al-Awlaki" — a former Colorado resident and dissident-turned-Islamic militant who was killed by 2011 drone strike in Yemen.
Conley remains in federal custody and is charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to a terrorist organization. If convicted, she faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
9Airlines Flight #2476 from Istanbul, Turkey to Adana, Turkey. Your affiant learned that Adana, Turkey is approximately a three hour drive from the Syrian / Turkish border. 15.During the course of this investigation, FBI personnel also contacted Conley’s parents. Conley lives with her parents atOn 2/19/2014, Ana Conley (hereinafter: Ana) was interviewed at her place of employment by SA Matthew Dahl and your affiant. Ana is the mother of Conley. Ana is married to the father of Conley, John Conley (hereinafter: John). Conley lives at the home of her parents. Ana advisedthere were several firearmswithin their home and Conley is familiar with their use. Conley and a friend, Amber, had taken one of the rifles and had recently practiced shooting at a local shooting range. On 2/25/2014, Johnwas interviewed by SA Dahl andyour affiant(Ana was present but did not participate). Johnwas aware that Conleyhad converted to Islam, but was not aware she had any interest in extremist Islam or violent Jihad.Conleyhad described Jihadto her father as struggles to help the oppressed or the poor.John and Ana were advised their daughter had expressed, to overt FBI agents, her intention to travel overseas and commit violent Jihad. John and Ana were asked to attempt to engage Conley in candid conversation and to get her to expose her true views on Islam. John and Ana were further requested to meet with, and ask Conley to speak with, elders at her mosque to discussmore moderate views.16.On 3/10/2014, Johncalled SA Dahl and reported that he and his wife spoke with their daughter, Conley, regarding her religious views on the previous evening.Johnstated that Conley’sviews on Islam were far more extreme than hehad previously thought. Conley explained to her father she felt conflicted with what she thought Islam required of
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10her. Conley believedshe, as a Muslim, neededto marry young and be confrontational in her support of Islam. She conceded her knowledge of Islam was based solely on her own research that she conductedon the Internet.According to John, Conley had her own laptop computer and she accessed the wireless internet within their home on it. John advised Conley made efforts to prohibit him and Ana from seeing what she had on the screen of the computer.17.On 3/14/2014, your affiant talked to Johnby telephone. According to John,Conleyrecently met a new suitor online.He is a 32 year old Tunisian male named Conley told John thatclaimedto be in Syria fighting on behalf of “ISIS.” John metwhenhe found Conleyon her computer talking toviaSkype.At that time, Conley and asked for John’s blessing for Conley andto marry and for Johnto send Conleyto Syria to marryas soon as possible.Johndeclined both requests, which appeared to surprise bothConleyandConleyandwere trying to figure out how to get Conleyto Syria so they couldmarry and settle in Syria.18.On 4/1/2014, Johnwas interviewed by SA Dahl and your affiant. Conleytold John and Ana of her plan togo overseas to marry. Conley told John thatis her current suitor. Conley stated thatclaimed to be a stateless person; meaning he is Tunisian, but broke Tunisian law by going to Syria to fight.According to if he returned to Tunisia, he would face charges for joining a group fighting in Syria. Conley told Johnshe wants to go marry a soldier. Conley stated that if she cannot fight, she will still be supporting his cause.Johncalled your affiant laterthat dayto report that he found a one-way ticket for Conleyto travel from Denver to Adana, Turkey on 4/8/2014on his desk.On 4/2/2014, John
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11called SA Dahl and reported he and Ana had again confronted Conley and stated conclusively they did not provide their blessing, nor their support for her travel and marriage. Conley was aware that Islam required the blessing of her family for her marriage, but told John she had thought about it and disagreed with Islam on the issue and was going to travel and marry anyway without their blessing. John and Anacould not dissuade Conleyfrom her plans to travel to Turkey on 4/8/2014 to marryJohn told agents that he witnessed this exchange on Conley’s laptop computer at their residence located atin Arvada, Colorado.19.On 4/8/2014, Conley went to DIA, checked baggage and proceeded to check in for her flightdeparting Denver for Frankfurt, Germany.Agents arrested Conley on probable cause as she walked down the jet way to board the flight. 20.After the Conley’s arrest, agents read Conleyher Miranda rights.She indicated she understood her rights and waived them, giving a statement to agents. Conley told agents that she planned to fly to Turkey and wait there until associates ofher suitor contacted her. These associateswould then take Conley into Syria to meet up with her suitor.21.On 4/8/2014, agents executed search warrants for Conley’s residence located atin Arvada, Colorado and for the luggage she checked at DIA. At the residence, agents foundmaterials about jihad and Al-Qaeda. Agents recovered a number of CD/DVDs labeled “Anwar al-Awlaki.” In Conley’s luggage, agents found a folder with materials about first aid in the field.From Conley’s person, agents recovered a contact list which included numbers for
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12
CONCLUSION
22.Based on the information set forth in this application, your affiant submits that there is probable cause to issue a criminal complaint and arrest warrant for Shannon Maureen Conley foraviolation of Title 18 United States Code Section 2339B –Provision and Attempted Provision of Material Support or Resources to a DesignatedForeign Terrorist Organization.Respectfully submitted,
s/Christian K. R. Byrne
____ Christian K. R. ByrneTask Force Officer FBI-JTTFSworn to before me this_____ day of _____________, 2014. ____________________________ United States Magistrate Judge
Criminal Complaint and Applicationsfor Search Warrant werereviewed and aresubmitted by Gregory Holloway, Assistant United States Attorney.
9th April
_____ __ United States Magistrate Judge _
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DEFENDANT:SHANNON MAUREEN CONLEYYOB:1996ADDRESS(CITY/STATE):Arvada, ColoradoOFFENSE(S):18 U.S.C. § 2339B, Provision and Attempted Provision of Material Support or Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist OrganizationLOCATION OF OFFENSE(COUNTY/STATE): Jefferson County, ColoradoPENALTY:NMT 15 years imprisonment,$250,000 fine, or both; NMT 5 years supervised release; $100 special assessmentAGENT:Christian K. R. ByrneTask Force Officer, FBI-JTTFAUTHORIZED BY:Gregory HollowayAssistant U.S. AttorneyESTIMATED TIME OF TRIAL:Xfive days or less over five days other THE GOVERNMENTXwill seek detention in this case will
not
seek detention in this caseThe statutory presumption of detention
is
applicable to this defendant.OCDETF CASE: YesXNo
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