By Steve Neavling

An accused Islamic extremist who threatened FBI agents in Pittsburgh was sentenced to six years in prison Tuesday. 

Khaled Miah, a 28-year-old former University of Pittsburgh student and Bangladesh native, was convicted by a federal jury in December of interstate threats and obstruction by deleting his Twitter accounts. 

The FBI began investigating after receiving a tip about a YouTuber named “Blitz Kreig” threatening another user and referring to a potential attack on the U.S. 

Agents discovered that Miah was behind the accounts at the University of Pittsburgh and found posts and tweets in support of ISIS and terrorism. 

Miah refused to cooperate when reached by Agent Nicholas Edquist and a task force officer, Mike Matta. 

After deleting his Twitter account, Miah sent Edquist’s wedding photos to a friend and tweeted a photo of the agent’s wife, in addition to personal information and sexual comments about her and the agent. 

Miah continued to make threats against other Pittsburgh agents using a new Twitter account. 

Agents found that Miah posted information in support of terrorism and searched for information about bombs, guns and terrorism. 

On Miah’s phone, agents found photos of the agents with red lines through their faces. 

During sentencing, U.S. District Judge W. Scott Hardy said Miah “threatened the very people who sacrifice their lives and comfort to keep everyone in our community safe,” the Justice Department said in a news release.

Hardy also said it was important to send a message that threats against FBI agents won’t be tolerated. 

In sentencing papers filed in September, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Smolar and Nicole Stockey urged the judge to impose a sentence of up to eight years in prison.

“Miah’s persistent threats, retaliation against the victims, and obstruction in this case warrant a severe sentence to punish Miah and to send a message to him and other like-minded individuals that criminal threats against law enforcement will result in severe consequences,” they said.

Miah’s attorneys asked the judge to sentence him to no more than 41 months in prison. 

“Mr. Miah was convicted of threatening the FBI on his Twitter account,” they said. “His threats were ambiguous, did not articulate a specific action to be taken, or a weapon to be used, or even a specific target.”

The FBI began investigating after receiving a tip about a YouTuber named “Blitz Kreig” threatening another user and referring to a potential attack on the U.S. 

By Steve Neavling

Federal prosecutors are calling for up to eight years in prison for an accused Islamic extremists who threatened FBI agents in Pittsburgh. 

Khaled Miah, 28-year-old former University of Pittsburgh student and Bangladesh native, was convicted by a federal jury in December of interstate threats and obstruction by deleting his Twitter accounts. 

In sentencing papers filed last week, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jessica Smolar and Nicole Stockey urged a judge to impose a strict sentence, partly to send a message that threats against the FBI won’t be tolerated, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

“Miah’s persistent threats, retaliation against the victims, and obstruction in this case warrant a severe sentence to punish Miah and to send a message to him and other like-minded individuals that criminal threats against law enforcement will result in severe consequences,” they said.

Miah’s attorney is asking judge to sentence him to no more than 41 months in prison. 

“Mr. Miah was convicted of threatening the FBI on his Twitter account,” they said. “His threats were ambiguous, did not articulate a specific action to be taken, or a weapon to be used, or even a specific target.”

The FBI began investigating after receiving a tip about a YouTuber named “Blitz Kreig” threatening another user and referring to a potential attack on the U.S. 

Agents discovered that Miah was behind the accounts at the University of Pittsburgh and found posts and tweets in support of ISIS and terrorism. 

Miah refused to cooperate when reached by Agent Nicholas Edquist and a task force officer, Mike Matta. 

After deleting his Twitter account, Miah sent Edquist’s wedding photos to a friend and tweeted a photo of the agent’s wife, in addition to personal information and sexual comments about her and the agent. 

Miah continued to make threats against other Pittsburgh agents using a new Twitter account. 

Agents found that Miah posted information in support of terrorism and searched for information about bombs, guns and terrorism. 

On Miah’s phone, agents found photos of the agents with red lines through their faces. 

First, the good news: An FBI agent’s stolen SUV was found in Pittsburgh. 

Now the bad news: The agent’s handgun is missing. 

The FBI is offering a $5,000 reward for help recovering the stolen Glock 19M 9mm, which was inside the agent’s unmarked black Ford Explorer when the government-issued vehicle was stolen Tuesday afternoon.

The SUV was parked in Schenley Park when it was stolen. 

“The FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, in partnership with Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, are devoting significant resources to locate the weapon, a Glock 19M 9mm, and remove it from the possession of the untrained individual(s) who may have it,” the bureau said in a news release. “All area law enforcement agencies were quickly notified of the theft and are assisting the FBI as warranted.”

Anyone with information on the gun’s whereabouts is asked to call the FBI’s Pittsburgh office at (412) 432-4000.

By Steve Neavling

A Pittsburgh man who the FBI said is “obsessed” with Nazis was sentenced to 32 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Dennis Alan Riggs, 51, pleaded guilty in May after the terrorism task force raided his home in January and found it riddled with Nazi memorabilia, the FBI said in a news release.

He was in possession of seven firearms and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, including an AR-15. 

The search of his home and cell phone uncovered his “obsession with Nazi ideology,” the FBI said. On his cell phone were photos and videos of him posing with an illegal AR-15 while wearing a Swastika shirt. One video shows him performing the Nazi “Heil Hitler salute” with the AR-15, which U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Colville said “exceeds the bounds of mere political expression.”

The FBI led the investigation.

By Steve Neavling

ticklethewire.com

A Pittsburgh man accused of shooting an ATF agent during a raid at his home in June has been charged with assault on a federal employee and violating federal firearms laws.

Dion Williams, 44, was indicted by a federal grand jury after authorities say he shot the agent during a raid following a wiretap investigation into cocaine trafficking, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release Wednesday.

The agent was taken to a hospital in stable condition.

“My office has zero tolerance for assaults upon or violence directed against law enforcement officers. Violent drug trafficking felons like Dion Williams who brazenly use illegal firearms to shoot at law enforcement officers have no place in western Pennsylvania,” U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said. “We will continue to use all available resources to dismantle drug gangs and bring violent criminals to justice, and to protect the men and women of law enforcement who work tirelessly every day to keep us all safe.”

Williams and 11 others have been arrested and charged with possession and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. The investigation is connected to a larger drug-trafficking probe involving the “11 Hunnit” street gang, Brady said.

“It’s essential that we keep law enforcement officers safe as they protect and serve the nation’s communities,” Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Michael Christman said. “Assault on law enforcement officers undermines the rule of law and will not be tolerated. Anyone who fires at law enforcement threatens the safety of our community and will face serious legal consequences. I am thankful the injured ATF agent is recovering and appreciative of his service and dedication.”

By Steve Neavling

ticklethewire.com

A 52-year-old man has been charged on allegations he planted explosives next to a building in downtown Pittsburgh.

ATF agents and local police searched the home of Matthew Michanowicz, who has been charged with possessing weapons of mass destruction and possession of explosive or incendiary materials or devices.

Authorities say the man was caught on surveillance footage getting off his bike and planting a backpack next to PNC Plaza.

On Monday, authorities investigated a report of a suspicious package and found multiple explosives inside.

Police say Michanowicz admitted he was downtown but denied planing the backpack. Photos and videos show otherwise, authorities said.

By Steve Neavling

ticklethewire.com

FBI agents in Pittsburgh were in for a surprise last week when someone abandoned a car tagged with a strange message at an entrance gate to the bureau’s office on the city’s south side.

Along the side of the car was a stencil-painted message: “RUSSIA PLANTS MICRORADIO DEVICES IN PPLS EARS & CONTROLS THEM USING A SOUND SIMILAR TO A DOG WHISTLE. SUBLIMINAL HYPNOSIS.”

A bomb squad checked the car for explosives Thursday morning, and agents worked with Pittsburgh’s local police to investigate, KIRO-7 reported.

By Friday, the person who parked the car outside the East Carson Street office was found.

“He voluntarily turned himself in to the FBI this morning and appears to be suffering from an unknown mental illness,” an FBI spokesperson said in a statement.

THE MESSAGE ON THE CAR: “RUSSIA PLANTS MICRORADIO DEVICES IN PPLS EARS & CONTROLS THEM USING A SOUND SIMILAR TO A DOG WHISTLE. SUBLIMINAL HYPNOSIS.”
My photographer @pishotti captured this shot of the side of the car at the FBI gate. @WPXI pic.twitter.com/fedQMn5JCb

— Mike Holden (@WPXIMikeHolden) October 31, 2019

By Steve Neavling

ticklethewire.com

The FBI foiled a Syrian refugee’s plot to attack a Christian church in Pittsburgh next month, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.

Mustafa Mousab Alowemer, 21, a Pittsburgh resident, was charged with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS and two counts of distributing information relating to an explosive, destructive device or weapon of mass destruction.

Alowemer is accused of planning to bomb a church in Pittsburgh in the name of ISIS using a “weapon of mass destruction”

The Justice Department said Alowemer was motivated to attack the church to “take revenge for our (ISIS) brothers in Nigeria.

“Our top priority is protecting the citizens of western Pennsylvania,” U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said. “Every day investigators and prosecutors work tirelessly behind the scenes to disrupt terrorist activity and keep our community safe. While the public does not always see the results of the hard work of these dedicated men and women, this case is a visible demonstration of our commitment to rooting out terrorists and bringing them to justice.”

Born in Syria, Alowemer was permitted into the U.S. as a refugee in August 2016.