A formal indictment was unsealed Tuesday against Aurora resident Jamshid Muhtorov, who stands accused of providing material support to a designated terrorist organization. The 35-year-old refugee from Uzbekistan was arrested Saturday night at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
U.S. Marshals are expected to bring Muhtorov, who was on his way to Asia from Denver, back to Colorado to face the charges. If convicted, he faces 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Muhtorov is accused of supporting the Islamic Jihad Union, a militant group also fighting Uzbekistan’s authoritarian regime.
Court records show the federal government believes he was planning to fly overseas to attack coalition forces and was willing to die for the cause.
A federal grand jury indicted him on a single count of providing material support of a designated foreign terrorist organization and attempt to do the same.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Denver investigated the case for several months. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Holloway, who helped prosecute convicted terrorist Najibullah Zazi, is assigned to the case. Felisa Cardona, The Denver Post
