Indiana man sentenced 15 years for role in terrorist plot

An Indiana man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a planned terrorist attack as well as distributing information on explosives.

Authorities said Marlonn Hicks, 31, of Crown Point, Indiana, has also been handed down three years of supervised release following his sentence for distributing information regarding the manufacture and use of explosives, with the intent the information would be used for and in furtherance of a crime of violence.

“The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting terrorist threats against our homeland,” John Demers, assistant Attorney General for National Security, said. “The defendant plotted to conduct an attack on U.S. soil and, with today’s sentence, he is being held accountable for his actions. I applaud the efforts of the agents and prosecutors to achieve this successful outcome. Their work will ensure that the actions of the defendant, inspired by evil, will serve only as a cautionary tale for other would-be terrorists.”

Hicks transformed from an online supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization, to someone planning a terrorist act, authorities said, noting within days of the Orlando, Florida, Pulse Nightclub terrorist attack, Hicks was inspired to commit an act of terrorism and kill innocent civilians.

Authorities said Hicks sent an undercover FBI operative he believed to be an ISIS supporter two manuals on how to manufacture and use explosives and poisons and continued to discuss with this FBI source possible terror attacks. As he began to develop an attack plan, in addition to sending the manuals, he discussed coordinating attacks to create an audience and how to obtain firearms and practice with them.