Buyer of guns used in San Bernardino massacre charged with terrorism counts

[webfact]

Buyer of guns used in massacre charged with terrorism counts
By BRIAN MELLEY and ERIC TUCKER

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The man who bought the assault rifles used by his friend in the San Bernardino massacre was charged Thursday with terrorism-related counts.

The FBI arrested Enrique Marquez, 24, on charges of conspiring with Syed Rizwan Farook to commit terrorist attacks in 2011 and 2012 that they never carried out. Marquez was Farook's next-door neighbor and longtime friend who converted to Islam and was radicalized by Farook, federal prosecutors said.

Marquez also was charged with illegally purchasing two assault rifles used by Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, to kill 14 people at a holiday gathering of Farook's health department co-workers on Dec. 2. The shooters died hours later in a gunbattle with police.

Marquez had no role in the attack, but prosecutors said the guns and bomb-making materials he bought that the couple planned to detonate linked him to the killings.

"While there currently is no evidence that Mr. Marquez participated in the Dec. 2 attack or had advance knowledge of it, his prior purchase of the firearms and ongoing failure to warn authorities about Farook's intent to commit mass murder had fatal consequences," U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker said.

Authorities previously said Marquez had legally purchased the high-powered guns.

The FBI investigated the rampage as an act of terrorism and said the Muslim couple were radicalized before they met online and communicated privately about jihad and martyrdom before they married.

President Barack Obama said he was briefed on the investigation Thursday and reiterated the federal government's commitment to find answers to all the unknowns in the case.

Marquez had deep ties with Farook that extended to a family connection. The two grew up next door to each other in Riverside and then became related through marriage.

Both men were witnesses at the wedding of Farook's brother, Raheel, to a Russian woman in 2011, according to Riverside County marriage records.

Last year, Marquez married the sister of Raheel Farook's wife. That made Marquez and Raheel Farook brothers-in-law and gave Marquez and Syed Rizwan Farook a sister-in-law in common.

Marquez faces an additional immigration charge for a sham marriage.

Records show that Marquez married Mariya Chernykh at a ceremony at the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco, though the mosque's facility manager denied it occurred there.

Marquez was not a member of that mosque, Azmi Hasan said. Marquez worshipped there three to four times over seven years, Hasan said.

Right after the shooting, Marquez called his mother to say he was safe but that he wouldn't be coming home, neighbor Lorena Aguirre said. He later checked into a mental health facility.

Three days after the attack, federal agents raided his mother's house in Riverside, a city near San Bernardino that is about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.

Armida Chacon has said her son is a good person who loved to hang out with friends and go to parties, according to The Los Angeles Times.

"I don't know how this happened. ... My world is upside-down," she said tearfully.

When asked about Syed Farook, she said her son was friends with him and "nothing more."

Marquez's friends were shocked to learn he was linked to the attack by the weapons and described him as a friendly, easygoing guy who was not religious and rarely discussed his family or marriage.

"I still can't believe this is going on," said Viviana Ramirez, who met Marquez through an online forum when they studied at Riverside Community College. "I just want people to know he's not a bad person."

Marquez was a licensed security guard for several years, but his license expired at the end of 2014. He was hired to work at Wal-Mart in May but has since been fired, a company spokesman said.
___

Tucker reported from Washington.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-12-18

[ezzra]

It's akin to charging the locksmith for installing faulty locks, they can charge the dead terrorist so they go for

the next in line, this is like an aspirin to a gravely sick person, the whole gun buying system, and specially

the heavy guns should revised and immediately, and da hell with second amendment if it keeps costing

lives and limbs with no end in sight...

[surfinglife]

He is a good person AND a radicalised Muslim? Aren't these mutually exclusive?

[Usernames]

Marquez also was charged with illegally purchasing two assault rifles

So once again the gun control laws did NOT work.

[Nowisee]

It's akin to charging the locksmith for installing faulty locks, they can charge the dead terrorist so they go for

the next in line, this is like an aspirin to a gravely sick person, the whole gun buying system, and specially

the heavy guns should revised and immediately, and da hell with second amendment if it keeps costing

lives and limbs with no end in sight...

Not quite.

More like knowingly aiding and abetting.

Unlawful sale/transfer of a firearm.

and the big one...conspiracy to commit.

Yep, I'd say he knew what was happening and did nothing to stop it or report it.

There's your no end in sight...

[Catoni]

Marquez also was charged with illegally purchasing two assault rifles

So once again the gun control laws did NOT work.

You can have the toughest gun laws in the world... disarm all the law-abiding gun owners..... the terrorists will still get their weapons. They are already prepared to disobey laws against murder, they don't care about your laws against gun ownership it you make those laws.

France has some of the toughest laws against private gun ownership in the world... Those laws did nothing to stop terrorists from getting pistols, Kalashnikov AK-47s, get explosives to build suicide vests, or get hand grenades.

Those French laws against private gun ownership only helped make sure there would be no civilians carrying weapons at that concert threater where most of the massacre took place. There was no one with a gun to even try to put up a fight against the terrorists.. The citizens never had a fighting chance to fight for their lives. Sitting duck bloodbath....

[wabothai]

How can one legally purchase 2 high powered assault rifles? To shoot rabits?

If it is a right covered by the constitution, then it is high time for the holy script to be changed.

Yes I know about the NRA. Yes I was assaulted by scum with those rifles.

Happy New Year USA.

Edited December 18, 2015 by wabothai

[OMGImInPattaya]

Complete fool...talking to the Feds these past two weeks and telling them everything they wanted to know...now he's got nothing to bargain with. He should have clammed-up, and with his two accomplices sleeping with the fishes, it would have been much more difficult for the government to prove anything. He's totally screwed himself now...hope he at least got a couple rounds with his hot fake Russian bride.

If you ever commit a crime or think you may have don't ever talk to any law enforcement personnel without your lawyer present.

Edited December 18, 2015 by OMGImInPattaya

[HenryB]

Complete fool...talking to the Feds these past two weeks and telling them everything they wanted to know...now he's got nothing to bargain with. He should have clammed the <deleted!> and with his two accomplices sleeping with the fishes it would have been much more difficult for the government to prove anything. He's totally screwed himself now...hope he at least got a couple rounds with his hot fake Russian bride.

If you ever commit a crime or think you may have don't ever talk to any law enforcement personnel without your lawyer present.

Yes he the perfect fool poor and sample He doesn't know what he is doing Problem in the US and the rest of the World many like him.

And many Vote and even hold Elective Office

Once again read what he says and you will know no Terrorist just a loud mouth fool looking for his 15 minutes of fame by admitting everything and anything

[OMGImInPattaya]

Complete fool...talking to the Feds these past two weeks and telling them everything they wanted to know...now he's got nothing to bargain with. He should have clammed the F-up and with his two accomplices sleeping with the fishes it would have been much more difficult for the government to prove anything. He's totally screwed himself now...hope he at least got a couple rounds with his hot fake Russian bride.

If you ever commit a crime or think you may have don't ever talk to any law enforcement personnel without your lawyer present.

Yes he the perfect fool poor and sample He doesn't know what he is doing Problem in the US and the rest of the World many like him.

And many Vote and even hold Elective Office

What did they say he was...cleaner at Walmart...that explains allot. Probably though they were his "friends" and gonna "go easy on him."

Edited December 18, 2015 by OMGImInPattaya

[dutchisaan]

Complete fool...talking to the Feds these past two weeks and telling them everything they wanted to know...now he's got nothing to bargain with. He should have clammed-up, and with his two accomplices sleeping with the fishes, it would have been much more difficult for the government to prove anything. He's totally screwed himself now...hope he at least got a couple rounds with his hot fake Russian bride.

If you ever commit a crime or think you may have don't ever talk to any law enforcement personnel without your lawyer present.

Sounds like you have some experience with crime.

Have a nice day.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Complete fool...talking to the Feds these past two weeks and telling them everything they wanted to know...now he's got nothing to bargain with. He should have clammed-up, and with his two accomplices sleeping with the fishes, it would have been much more difficult for the government to prove anything. He's totally screwed himself now...hope he at least got a couple rounds with his hot fake Russian bride.

If you ever commit a crime or think you may have don't ever talk to any law enforcement personnel without your lawyer present.

Sounds like you have some experience with crime.

Have a nice day.

Defending criminals.

[Steely Dan]

Is this a backhanded way of admitting the San Bernadino massacre WAS indeed terrorism and not workplace violence?

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

The NRA and EVERY politician that took their bribes to subvert anti gun laws should also be tried for terrorism as well as corruption

[Steely Dan]

Is this a backhanded way of admitting the San Bernadino massacre WAS indeed terrorism and not workplace violence?

Looks like the FBI may be trying to put out a message behind Obama's back.

[Catoni]

The NRA and EVERY politician that took their bribes to subvert anti gun laws should also be tried for terrorism as well as corruption

What did really tough laws against private ownership of firearms in France do to save those people's lives agains terrorists armed with Kalashnikov AK-47's, pistols and hand grenades and suicide explosives ? ?

Those tough gun laws only made sitting unarmed ducks out of the innocent people. A shooting gallery for the terrorists..

I'd feel a lot better having a some concealed carry and trained NRA members in the crowd if terrorists came in..