Afghan national pleads guilty to obtaining firearms in connection with Oklahoma election day terror plot

Afghan national pleads guilty to obtaining firearms in connection with Oklahoma election day terror plot

A teen who was charged in an Oklahoma election day terror plot has pleaded guilty to receiving rifles and ammunition. Abdullah Haji Zada and his alleged co-consirator, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, were planning the attack on behalf of ISIS, investigators said.

Zada pleaded guilty Thursday to knowingly receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive a firearm and ammunition to be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism.

READ MORE: FBI Arrests Afghan Man In Oklahoma For Alleged Election Day Terror Plot

According to court documents, Zada and a co-conspirator received two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, knowing that the firearms and ammunition would be used in connection with a terrorist attack on Election Day in November 2024 on behalf the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Zada was arrested with alleged co-conspirator Tawhedi, 27, also a citizen of Afghanistan, in October 2024.

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Tawhedi is currently awaiting trial for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and receiving, attempting to receive, or conspiring to receive a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison, if convicted. An indictment is merely an allegation and Tawhedi is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

RELATED: Election Day Terror Plot Trial Continued To April

Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult and will be sentenced as an adult. At sentencing, Zada faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

As part of the plea agreement, Zada agreed to be removed from the United States after servin his time in prison. Zada also waived his right to appeal the conviction except in limited circumstances or seek any form of appeal or relief from his removal and deportation, including but not limited to, seeking asylum.

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