Son of Boston Police Captain Pleads Guilty To Terrorism Charges

BOSTON, MA– The son of a Boston Police captain pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield in connection with a plot to engage in terrorist activity inspired by, and in the name of, ISIS.

Alexander Ciccolo, who also goes by Ali Al Amriki, 25, of Adams pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, one count of attempting to use weapons of mass destruction, one count of being a convicted person in possession of firearms, and one count of assaulting a nurse during a jail intake process by use of a deadly weapon causing bodily injury.

“Though he was born and raised in Massachusetts, Alexander Ciccolo swore allegiance to ISIS and planned to kill innocent civilians in the United States on ISIS’s behalf,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Fortunately, someone who knew Ciccolo alerted law enforcement, and we were able to stop Ciccolo before he tried to kill anyone. There are a few lessons here: the threat of “homegrown” radicalization and terror continues, and we are safest when we work together to spot and contain these threats. I applaud the outstanding work of the Joint Terrorism Task Force and other law enforcement agencies that investigated and ultimately stopped Ciccolo, and the prosecutors who brought this case to conviction.”

Back in 2015 Ciccolo had ordered four guns from someone who was cooperating with law enforcement, and who had been relaying what Ciccolo was saying about his plans to engage in a terrorist act to police.

On July 4, that year during a sting, Ciccolo received the guns, which included a Colt AR-15 .223 caliber rifle, a SigArms Model SG550-1 556 rifle, a Glock 17-9 mm pistol, and a Glock 20-10 mm pistol and was promptly arrested.

The then-23-year-old had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in jail and therefore was prohibited from possessing firearms.

Ciccolo, a self-professed supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, had spoken with the cooperating witness in recorded conversations about his plans to commit acts of terrorism inspired by ISIS, including setting off improvised explosive devices, such as pressure cookers filled with black powder, nails, ball bearings and glass, in places where large numbers of people congregate, like college cafeterias. Before his arrest, agents had seen Ciccolo purchase a pressure cooker similar to that used in the Boston Marathon bombings.

During a search of Ciccolo’s apartment after he was arrested, police found several partially constructed “Molotov cocktails.” These incendiary devices contained what appeared to be shredded Styrofoam soaking in motor oil. Ciccolo had previously told someone that this mixture would cause the fire from the exploded devices to stick to people’s skin and make it harder to put the fire out.

Shortly after his arrest, while he was being processed at the Franklin County Correctional Center, Ciccolo stabbed a nurse with a pen more than 10 times, leaving a bloody gash on the top of the nurse’s head.

Following a plea deal, Ciccolo and the United States agreed to sentence Ciccolo to 20 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release, according to the District Attorney's office.

Here's what he faced:

He faced up to 20 years in prison and as much as a lifetime of supervised release and $250,000 for helping a foreign terrorist organization. He also faced life in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and another $250,000 fine for attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. And for having possession of the guns, he faced up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Then for the stabbing incident too the nurse he faced as many as 20 years in prison three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.

Officials praised the work of police and investigators.

“Homegrown violent extremists pose a serious danger to innocent Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “Not only did Ciccolo admit to supporting ISIS, but he also collected weapons and explosives in order to further its goal: the murder of Americans. Thanks to the hard work and collaboration of all involved, his plans were thwarted.”

Officials also noted what the guilty plea represented.

“Mr. Ciccolo is finally accepting responsibility for concocting an elaborate and frightening plot to engage in terrorism on behalf of ISIS,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Office.” Any material support of a terrorist organization threatens our national security, and had Mr. Ciccolo's efforts to advance his agenda not been thwarted by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, countless lives could have been lost in a lethal terrorist attack. This case is a testament to the tireless efforts of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force which remains committed to detecting, thwarting, and bringing to justice individuals like Mr. Ciccolo who seek to provide material support to and fight on behalf of designated foreign terrorist organizations.”

U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for Sept. 5, 2018. Ciccolo has been detained since his arrest in July 2015.

Previously

Son of Boston Police Captain Charged in Terrorism Plot

Son of Boston Police Captain Held in Connection to Terror Plot

Updated Terrorism Charges for Massachusetts Man

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