DETROIT – A 22-year-old Dearborn Heights was scheduled to be sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to charges of making a false statement to acquire a firearm and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Khalil Abu-Rayyan pleaded guilty to the charges in September. His sentencing was supposed to be Monday but it was postponed.
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According to court records, on Oct. 5, 2015, Abu-Rayyan bought a .22 caliber revolver from a sporting goods store in Dearborn Heights. Abu-Rayyan falsely answered "no" in response to a question that asks whether the purchaser is an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
On Nov. 15, 2015, Abu-Rayyan tried to buy another pistol from a different sporting goods store, but was unable to make the purchase due to pending state charges. Abu-Rayyan again falsely answered that he was not an unlawful user of a controlled substance.
Abu-Rayyan admitted he was an habitual user of marijuana during the time period he bought the .22 caliber revolver. Abu-Rayyan has since pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana in the state case, and is currently awaiting trial in state court on the charge of carrying a concealed weapon in an automobile.
According to the criminal complaint, photographs and postings on Abu-Rayyan's social media sites and conversations with an undercover FBI employee, Abu-Rayyan showed support for the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and his desire to conduct a martyrdom operation, including with the use of firearms.
Abu-Rayyan was arrested Feb. 4 by FBI agents and remains in custody. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2017.
Abu-Rayyan faces a term of up 20 years in federal prison.
The feds filed a motion last month in response to the attempts of Abu-Rayyan to be released on bond.
Abu-Rayyan pleaded guilty to gun charges in August in exchange for dismissal of a drug charge.
The opposition to the defendant’s motion of revocation of detention order was filed in response to Abu-Rayyan’s motion for bond.
The motion says Abu-Rayyan remains a danger to the community and a flight risk due to his "consistent support of ISIS, his continually voiced desire to engage in a martyrdom operation, his fascination with death and killing, particularly beheadings, his on-going mental health issues, his possession and attempted possession of firearms, his drug us, and his prior assaultive conduct."
Abu-Rayyan’s background
According to the motion, Abu-Rayyan was referred to counseling at age 12 because he told his teacher that he dreamed he had a gun and shot everyone in the class.
He went to Star International Academy.
Abu-Rayyan had engaged in assaultive behavior in school requiring him to be suspended from school on three or four occasions, according to the motion. Police were called when he fought with his brother, and Abu-Rayyan was arrested.
In July 2014, he discussed conducting jihad because he believed that Israel was “killing everyone” and that he could not be a bystander to genocide, according to the motion filed.
The motion details Abu-Rayyan’s use of social media and his following of ISIS propaganda on Twitter. It states he posted positive comments after viewing the executions and killings depicted in videos. Images and screen shots of ISIL videos flooded his phone. Some of the images included the ISIS flag, people with firearms, people in orange jumpsuits who appeared to be burned alive and many other disturbing images.
In a text message from his brother on Dec. 12, Abu-Rayyan said:
“This would be a perfect time to do a istishadi operation.”
Istishad is an Arabic word for martyrdom.
The case
Federal authorities arrested Abu-Rayyan in February. He had been watched by the feds since May 2015 and was having online conversations with an undercover FBI agent.
In conversations between Abu-Rayyan and the undercover agent, Abu-Rayyan described his desire to commit a martyrdom operation.
“I tried to shoot up a church one day. It’s one of the biggest ones in Detroit. I had it planned out. I bought a bunch of bullets. I practiced reloading and unloading.”
The complaint filed in federal court didn’t specify which Detroit church he was allegedly planning to attack, only that it was close and could seat 6,000 members.
“It’s easy, and a lot of people go there. Plus people are not allowed to carry guns in church. Plus it would make the news. Everybody would’ve heard. Honestly I regret not doing it. If I can’t do jihad in the Middle East, I would do my jihad over here.”
READ: Criminal complaint
READ: Opposition to motion of revocation of detention order
Gun charges
Abu-Rayyan was pulled over Oct. 7, 2015, for speeding when Detroit police discovered a pistol, sleeping pills and marijuana in his vehicle.
Judge Craig Strong sentenced him to two years of probation including drug testing and 80 hours of community service.
Abu-Rayyan spoke at the sentencing saying that he is not a criminal or a thug, and said he is “not affiliated with anyone” before his attorney stopped him, saying he cannot comment about the federal complaint.
