NEW YORK
A U.S. soldier and his cousin have been arrested for allegedly conspiring to aid Daesh, the Justice Department said Thursday.
National Guard soldier Hasan Edmonds, 22, and Jonas Edmonds, 29, were charged with "one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization," the department said in a statement.
The younger Edmonds was arrested at a Chicago airport Wednesday night while attempting to fly to Cairo, according to the statement. His cousin was arrested at his home in Illinois.
Both men are U.S. nationals from Illinois.
“We will pursue and prosecute with vigor those who support ISIL and its agenda of ruthless violence,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Fardon. “Anyone who threatens to harm our citizens and allies, whether abroad or here at home, will face the full force of justice.”
Both men came to the attention of authorities in late 2014, according to court documents.
A subsequent investigation revealed that they allegedly devised a plan for Hasan to travel overseas for the purpose of using his military training to fight on behalf of Daesh, the Justice Department said.
"As alleged in the complaint, both defendants also planned for Jonas Edmonds to carry out an act of terrorism in the United States after Hasan Edmonds departed," the department said.
"Disturbingly, one of the defendants currently wears the same uniform of those they allegedly planned to attack," said John Carlin, assistant U.S. attorney general.
Initial court appearances are scheduled for later Thursday.
