Army sergeant in Hawaii indicted for trying to help ISIS
Army sergeant in Hawaii indicted for trying to help ISIS, A U.S. Army sergeant in Hawaii has been indicted on charges of attempting to provide support for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Justice Department announced Saturday.
Army sergeant in Hawaii indicted for trying to help ISIS, A U.S. Army sergeant in Hawaii has been indicted on charges of attempting to provide support for the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the Justice Department announced Saturday.
Ikaika Erik Kang, 34, is facing four counts of attempting to provide material support to ISIS after allegedly trying to supply military information and materials to FBI agents he thought were ISIS operatives.
Kang, who was stationed at the Schofield Barracks military complex in Hawaii, could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of the charges and up to a $250,000 fine for each count.
The affidavit filed against him last week said that he was arrested on July 8 after swearing a loyalty oath to ISIS and its leader. An FBI document said he hoped to "kill a bunch of people" with his rifle, NPR reported.
Kang reportedly had two firearms registered under his name at the time, an AR-15 style rifle and a .40 caliber pistol.
The Justice Department filed the grand jury indictment against Kang on Friday, and he will appear in court for an arraignment and plea on July 24.
In the indictment, Kang is accused of sharing tactical military gear and military documents, some classified as secret, with the agents.
The gear included "a GoPro Karma drone, a chest rig (which is a piece of military-style equipment worn over the shoulders that has chest puches and is typically used to hold tactical equipment, ammunition, and other military gear), and other military-style clothing and gear."
Kang served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. The government told NPR that he hoped to use his skills to help train ISIS by making a combat training video.
