Utica Man Charged With Supporting Terrorist Group ISIS

U.S. prosecutors say six Bosnian immigrants, including 26-year old Nihad Rosic of Utica, are accused of sending money and military equipment to terrorist fighters overseas, including the Islamic State group and al-Qaida (al Qaeda) in Iraq.

Rosic, along with Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, and are also charged with conspiring to kill and maim persons in a foreign country.

The indictment, unsealed Friday in United States District Court in St. Louis, Missouri, accuses the defendants of donating money themselves, fundraising, and sending donations overseas.

Named in the indictment are the following:

Armin Harcevic (37 years old, from St. Louis County, Missouri)
Ramiz Zijad Hodzic (40 years old, from St. Louis County, Missouri)
Sedina Unkic Hodzic (35 years old, from St. Louis County, Missouri)
Jasminka Ramic (42 years old, from Rockford, Illinois)
Nihad Rosic (26 years old from Utica, New York)
Mediha Medy Salkicevic (34 years old, from Schiller Park, Illinois)

One other person, Abdullah Ramo Pazara, is named in the indictment but is not being charged because authorities say they believe that he is dead.

According to a written release from the Justice Department:

"All six individuals are natives of Bosnia who immigrated to the United States. Three had become naturalized citizens of the United States and the remaining three have either refugee or legal resident status. Five of the defendants are in the United States and have been arrested. A sixth defendant is overseas. Defendants Ramiz Hodzic and Sedina Hodzic made their initial appearance before a federal magistrate in St. Louis early this evening.

If convicted, the crimes of conspiring to provide material support carry penalties ranging up to 15 years imprisonment for each count and/or fines up to $250,000. The crime of conspiring to kill and maim persons in a foreign country carries a penalty of up to life in prison. In determining the actual sentences, a judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

"The indictment unsealed today epitomizes the FBI's commitment to disrupting and holding accountable those who seek to provide material support to terrorists and terrorist organizations," said Special Agent in Charge Woods. "This case underscores the clear need for continued vigilance in rooting out those who seek to join or aid terrorist groups that threaten our national security."

This case was investigated by the St. Louis FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U. S. Postal Inspection Service, St. Louis Metropolitan and St. Louis County Police Departments, with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew Drake, Howard Marcus and Kenneth Tihen of the Eastern District of Missouri and Mara Kohn, a Trial Attorney in the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice.

As is always the case, charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty."

It is believed that Rosic has been previously arrested in Utica, New York.

Photo Credit: Utica Police

In October 2012 a man with the same name and approximately the same age was arrested by Utica Police after an alleged domestic incident after he was accused of beating a woman with a belt. The UPD previously arrested in November 2011 after allegedly punching a woman in the face while she was holding a child. UPD Lt. Steve Hauck says, however, that until a residence and date of birth are released by the United States Department of Justice the correlation cannot be confirmed.