Man Accused of Plotting Acts of "Violent Jihad" Against Civilians

The U.S. Department of Justice released a statement Friday saying that 22-year old Derrick Shareef was arrested Wednesday when he showed up to meet a man he thought was going to trade him four grenades and a handgun for a set of stereo speakers. But the man was an undercover FBI agent, and instead of a handgun, Shareef got handcuffs.

Federal officials said that Shareef became acquainted with a person in September who was a witness cooperating with the FBI. Shareef confided to the man that he wanted to commit acts of "violent jihad" against civilians, and he was also planning other crimes to obtain funds to further his goals.

According to the Department of Justice, Shareef did not know that his acquaintance was working in conjunction with the FBI, so he revealed his plans in detail. The friend told Shareef he could introduce him to a friend who would be able to obtain weapons for him. That friend was an FBI agent.

Shareef planned to set off several grenades in garbage cans inside the Cherry Vale Shopping Mall in Rockford, IL, which houses a collection of about 130 retail stores about 90 miles west of Chicago. The indictment, which was unsealed in federal court Friday, said that the mall was not Shareef’s only target. Although the mall was among several potential targets that Shareef discussed with his friend and the undercover agent during the investigation, there were other local places—courthouses, city hall, government buildings, and government facilities—that were also discussed as potential targets.

On the day that Shareef met with the undercover agent, they strolled around the mall discussing the layout of the shops. Shareef pointed out spots where he might set off several grenades simultaneously in order to create more chaos. Shareef’s friend who was cooperating with the FBI told investigators that on the way to the mall, he and Shareef talked about shaving their body hair and meditating in order to prepare for the attack. Upon arriving at the mall, the pair timed how long it would take to walk from one point in the mall to other points. They also recorded final videotaped statements, which are routinely made by people planning attacks on civilians as part of a jihad.

"Once the threat Shareef posed was detected by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, his activities and movements were under constant surveillance and there was no imminent risk to the public," said Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the FBI. "By using an undercover agent, confidential sources and physical surveillance, the JTTF was in position to continuously monitor Shareef's activities and was prepared to intervene before he could act." Grant added that the outcome of this case is a good example of the value of teamwork.

"While these are very serious charges, at no time was the public in any imminent peril," said Patrick J. Fitzgerald, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. Shareef has been charged with one count of attempting to damage or destroy a building by fire or explosion and one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. If convicted, each charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.