WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The friend of San Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook has been charged with conspiring to support terrorists and unlawfully purchasing firearms that were used in the December 2 attack, and is expected to appear in court later on Thursday, the US Department of Justice announced in a statement.
"Enrique Marquez Jr. is charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists for his role in plotting attacks on American soil in 2011 and 2012, attacks which were, fortunately, not carried out," Assistant Attorney General John Carlin said on Thursday.
On December 2, Syed Farook and his wife Tashfeen Malik, who entered the United States on a fiancée visa, carried out a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, California, killing 14 people and injuring 20 more.
However, the Justice Department noted there was no evidence Marquez was directly involved in the San Bernardino attack.
Moreover, Marquez has been charged with defrauding US Citizenship and Immigration Services after he married one of Farook’s family members to obtain legal status in the United States in exchange for $200 a month.
In 2011 and 2012, Marquez and Farook allegedly planned separate terrorist attacks, but failed to carry them out, the Justice Department said.
If convicted, Marquez could face up to 15 years in prison for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, a maximum of 10 years for making false statements about acquiring the firearms and another statutory maximum of 10 years for immigration fraud.
