CHARLOTTE, NC — A Charlotte man was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of trying to provide material support to the terrorist organization known as ISIS.
Erick Hendricks, 38, was sentenced Monday after being convicted by a jury in Akron, Ohio last year. The jury found that Hendricks “attempted and conspired to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization,” according to a release.
According to court documents and trial testimony, Hendricks tried to recruit people for ISIS and have them train together with the goal of committing terrorist attacks in the United States.
“Hendricks used social media to recruit others to plan and carry out attacks on our homeland in the name of ISIS, with the goal of creating a sleeper cell on our soil,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers. “Thanks to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement, Hendricks’ plan was thwarted, and with today’s sentence, he is being held accountable for his terrorist activities.”
“This defendant sought to create a cell of ISIS supporters, train those people and then launch attacks from inside the United States,” U.S. Attorney Herdman said. “This defendant posed a very real threat to the safety of our community and nation.”
“Erick Jamal Hendricks represents the significant online ISIS threat that we face daily – a US citizen that became radicalized online and attempted to recruit and train individuals to commit jihad, all while living in the United States,” said Special Agent in Charge Smith. “The FBI urges the public to report information regarding individuals pledging their allegiance to ISIS or other identified terrorist groups. The FBI is pleased that Hendricks was stopped before he was successful and now will spend a significant amount of time behind bars.”
Officials say Hendricks would test the religious knowledge and commitment level of possible recruits. He reportedly asked his targets about their willingness to commit “jihad,” die as a “martyr” and their desire to enter “paradise.”
Court documents and testimony say Hendricks would also often refer to the “brothers in Texas and Mexico” while talking to potential recruits. Evidence also showed he was linked to a thwarted terrorist attack in Garland, Texas on May 3, 2015.
The attack was committed by Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, whom Hendricks had reportedly been in contact with just prior to them opening fire at the “First Annual Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest.” Two security guards were injured before Simpson and Soofi were both killed by Garland Police.
