The U.S. attorney's office announced Friday that six Bosnian immigrants living in the U.S. are being charged with sending money and equipment to terrorists overseas, including Islamic State fighters.
Some of the defendants donated money and even collected donations from others in the U.S., according to the indictment. Two defendants bought U.S. military uniforms, tactical gear, firearms accessories and other equipment and shipped it to people in Turkey and Saudi Arabia who then sent the supplies to fighters in Iraq and Syria, reported The Associated Press. Money was also sent to family members of fighters.
Since May 2013, the defendants allegedly communicated via email, social media sites and phones by using code words such as "brothers," "lions and "Bosnian brothers."
The unsealed indictment implicated Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, 40, his wife, Sedina Unkic Hodzic, 35, and Armin Harcevic, 37, who lived in St. Louis, Mo., Nihad Rosic, 26, of Utica, N.Y., Mediha Medy Salkicevic, 34, of Schiller Park, Ill., and Jasminka Ramic, 42, of Rockford, Ill., reported KSDK TV-5.
Ramiz allegedly collected nearly $8,000 and bought more than $2,400 in military equipment from St. Louis businesses, including military uniforms, combat boots, tactical gear and firearms accessories, and used the U.S. Postal Service to ship the gear to Turkey.
Between 2013 and 2014, investigators said Ramiz funneled more than $7,700 through Bosnia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia to Islamic State fighters, USA Today said.
All six were charged with conspiring to support terrorists, each count carrying up to 15 years and/or fines up to $250,000, according to USA Today. Ramiz and Rosic were charged with conspiring to kill and maim people living in a foreign country, which carries a penalty of up to life in prison.
Five of the defendants have already been arrested, according to the U.S. attorney's office, while the sixth is at an unspecified location overseas.
