A former resident of Sugar Land, Texas, has been arrested and detained for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
A federal grand jury returned a sealed indictment against Warren Christopher Clark, 34, on January 23, 2019. It was unsealed on Friday following his initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Peter Bray in Houston.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick and Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBI’s Houston Field Office announced the indictment.
According to federal prosecutors, Mr. Clark was captured in Syria by the Syrian Democratic Forces, and transferred to U.S. law enforcement custody last week.
He arrived Thursday in the Southern District of Texas.
“The arm of American Justice has a lengthy reach,” said Patrick. “The number one priority of the Southern District of Texas, along with the FBI and our other national security partners, is to keep America safe. The protection of life is the most sacred job law enforcement has.”
Clark is charged with attempting to provide himself as material support to ISIS, designated a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“The FBI continues to aggressively pursue individuals who attempt to join the ranks of ISIS’s foreign fighters or try to provide support for other terrorist organizations. This fight against terrorism is not one we can combat alone,” Special Agent Turner said. “The FBI relies on our domestic counterparts and foreign law enforcement agencies, as well as the public. Anyone who has information about individuals who have traveled or are planning to travel overseas to support terrorist groups should report it immediately to their local FBI office.”
The charge of material support, which carries a possible penalty of up to 20 years in federal prison and a maximum $250,000 fine, upon conviction.
The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and police departments in Houston and Sugar Land conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Mark McIntyre and Craig M. Feazel and Trial Attorney Michael J. Dittoe of the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.
