Former Bragg soldier accused of wanting to join terrorist organization

A former Fort Bragg Army veteran, a 24-year-old from Laurel, Md. who served in Iraq is facing charges that he wants to help Al-Shabaab, a terrorist organization.

Authorities say Craig Benedict Baxam secretly converted to Islam before he left the Army in 2010 and then wanted to move to Somalia and live under Sharia law.

“The complaint alleges that Craig Baxam intended to travel to Somalia and join the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein in a news report. “Mr. Baxam was caught in Kenya before he reached Somalia, and there is no allegation that anyone assisted him.”

In Federal Court Monday, Baxam appeared with a beard and a long traditional Muslim robe. He looked calm and smiled when he saw his mother in the gallery. When told he was charged with attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization, he answered yes, that he understood the charges according to an Associated Press report.

According to authorities, Baxam joined the Army in 2007 and finished eight months of advance training in cryptoloy and intelligence. He was deployed to Baghdad and in August 2010 he deployed for a one year in Korea.

He left the army and returned to Maryland one month before he finished his deployment in Korea.

Authorities allege Baxam traveled to Somalia, via Kenya, with between $600 and $700, which he planned to give to Al-Shabaab.

On December 23, 2011, Kenyan police stopped a bus Baxam was riding in Kenya and arrested him for attempting to travel to Somalia to join Al-Shabaab.

Prosecutors say that when he was asked what he thought his role would be with the group, he said "he would just be another body there."

He also allegedly said he was "looking for dying with a gun in my hand."

He is slated to appear in court Wednesday for a detention hearing.