A 21-year-old Pennsylvania man accused of plotting a violent attack on behalf of ISIS was arrested after FBI agents tracked him to a hotel and seized a semiautomatic rifle, five magazines and 190 rounds of ammunition, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
asserted
prosecutors → accuse → ammunition
Jonathan Hunter Kramer, of Valencia, had allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS, offered to distribute explosives manuals online and said he was preparing for his “mission” but still needed a weapon before agents moved in, according to a federal criminal complaint.
uncertain
agents → pledge → complaint
Kramer is charged with receiving a firearm and ammunition, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe they would be used to commit a felony or federal crime of terrorism, including providing or attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
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they → charge → organization
The FBI had been aware since a 2023 investigation of Kramer, at the time a minor, when he was charged and adjudicated delinquent in Pennsylvania for his role in a plot to carry out a mass-casualty attack and for possessing child sexual abuse material, according to the Justice Department.
uncertain
he → charge → Department
Authorities began investigating him again after an anonymous tip came in on March 19, shortly after his release from a juvenile detention facility.
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tip → begin → facility
The tipster said Kramer was ordering “mysterious” packages and “talking to his friends from before” his juvenile adjudication.
asserted
Kramer → say → adjudication
Investigators said Kramer was using the online name “Hamza Al Rashid,” claiming an affiliation with ISIS and offering to share explosives manuals.
asserted
Kramer → say → manuals
He allegedly wrote about preparing for his “mission” and said he was missing a “weapon.”
uncertain
he → write → weapon
On Friday, FBI agents watched Kramer leave his home with a bag and take a rideshare to a store, where he bought a disposable phone, according to the complaint.
uncertain
he → watch → complaint
He then met another person in the parking lot, took a long black bag from the trunk of a vehicle and traveled to a hotel in Cranberry Township, where he paid cash for a room.
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he → meet → room
Witnesses at the store and hotel said the bag made a metallic clicking sound when Kramer put it down.
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Kramer → say → it
After checking in, Kramer went to a sporting goods store, where agents saw him at the gun counter.
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agents → check → counter
Agents approached him when he returned to the hotel carrying two bags from the store.
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he → approach → store
Searches of Kramer, his hotel room and his home turned up a semiautomatic rifle, five rifle magazines — two loaded and three capable of holding 30 rounds each — and 190 rounds of rifle ammunition, according to the complaint.
uncertain
Searches → turn → complaint
Agents also found a rifle scope and bipod, an entrenchment tool, pepper spray and about 30 knives.
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Agents → find → scope
A handwritten note read, “DoNt look For me[.] IDK what I did buT I cant live In constant Fear[.]”
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I → read → Fear
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the arrest came as Americans marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
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Americans → say → attacks
“Their outstanding work thwarted this alleged attack before innocent lives could be lost,” Blanche said.
uncertain
Blanche → thwart → attack
FBI Director Kash Patel said Kramer had been “plotting a violent attack in support of ISIS,” citing his online activity and acquisition of weapons.
asserted
Kramer → say → weapons
The Justice Department did not identify a specific target for the alleged attack.
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Department → identify → attack
Kramer was booked into the Butler County Jail and made his first court appearance Monday.
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Kramer → book → appearance
Prosecutors have asked that he be held without bond, arguing that he poses a danger to the community.
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he → ask → community
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