MURDER USA: Arizona Grand Jury indicted Mahin Khan on terror charge after arrest by FBI
PHOENIX – Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced a State Grand Jury indicted Mahin Khan, 18, of Tucson, charging him with Terrorism, Conspiracy to Commit Terrorism, and Conspiracy to Commit Misconduct Involving Weapons. The indictment is the result of an investigation by the Phoenix Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, including agents from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office Special Investigations Section.
“The Attorney General’s Office remains committed to partnering with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and all federal and local law enforcement partners to keep Arizonans safe,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich.
Khan’s alleged repeated communication and conspiracy with an individual whom he believed to be a fighter with ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) to obtain weapons including pipe bombs or pressure cooker bombs, and commit an act of terror at a Motor Vehicle Division office in Maricopa County.
“I want to commend the work of the Arizona Attorney General’s Offices, Federal, State, and local law enforcement partners and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force,” said Michael DeLeon Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office. “Incredibly significant to this investigation were the citizens who came forward and alerted investigators to the suspicious behavior. The FBI and prosecutors work every day to protect those who assist with investigations.”
The charges stem from an investigation into Khan’s alleged repeated communication and conspiracy with an individual whom he believed to be a fighter with ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) to obtain weapons including pipe bombs or pressure cooker bombs, and commit an act of terror at a Motor Vehicle Division office in Maricopa County.
“The FBI continues to identify and address threats to protect the United States and other nations from terrorist attacks,” added DeLeon. As always, we remind the public to remain vigilant and report suspected terrorist or criminal activity online at tips.fbi.gov.”
Khan was arrested in Tucson on July 1, 2016, by agents from the FBI and agents with the Joint Terrorism Task Force. He is being held without bond in the Maricopa County Jail pending trial on the indictment.
The prosecutors said that the investigation into Khan’s alleged conspiracy and terror activities remains ongoing, but there is not believed to be a further threat from him or his activities at this time.
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA
IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA
STATE OF ARIZONA,
Plaintiff,
v.
MAHIN KHAN (001),
Defendant.
Case No: CR2016-005270-001
79 SGJ 66
INDICTMENT
CHARGING VIOLATIONS OF:
COUNT 1: TERRORISM, a Class 2
Felony, in violation of A.R.S. § 13- 2308.01(A)(3);
COUNT 2: CONSPIRACY TO
COMMIT TERRORISM, a Class 2
Felony, in violation of A.R.S. § 13- 2308.01(A)(2);
COUNT 3: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT
MISCONDUCT INVOLVING
WEAPONS, a Class 4 Felony, in violation
of A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(3).
The Arizona State Grand Jury accuses MAHIN KHAN, charging on this 6th day of July,
2016 that in or from Maricopa County, Arizona:
2
COUNT 1
TERRORISM
On or between April 1, 2015 and July 1, 2016, MAHIN KHAN, solicited, incited or
induced others to promote or further an act of terrorism to wit: at a Motor Vehicle Division
office located in Maricopa County, Arizona, in violation of A.R.S. §§13-2308.01(A)(3), 13-
2301, 13-701, 13-702, 13-703, and 13-801.
COUNT 2
CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT TERRORISM
On or between April 1, 2015 and July 1, 2016, MAHIN KHAN, conspired to commit
terrorism, in violation of A.R.S. §§13-1003, 13-2308.01(A)(2), 13-2301, 13-701, 13-702, 13-
703, and 13-801.
Said offense occurred when MAHIN KHAN with the intent to promote or aid the
commission of an offense, to wit: terrorism at a Motor Vehicle Division office located in
Maricopa County, Arizona, a felony upon the person of another, agreed with one or more
persons that at least one of them or another person would engage in conduct constituting the
offense, in violation of A.R.S. §§ 13-1003, 13-2308.01(A)(2), 13-2301, 13-701, 13-702, 13-703,
and 13-801.
COUNT 3
CONSPIRACY TO COMMITT MISCONDUCT INVOLVING WEAPONS
On or between April 1, 2015 and July 1, 2016, MAHIN KHAN, conspired to commit
misconduct involving weapons, in violation of A.R.S. §§13-1003, 13-3102(A)(2), 13-
3201(A)(8), 13-701, 13-702, 13-703, and 13-801.
Said offense occurred when MAHIN KHAN with the intent to promote or aid the
commission of an offense, to wit: misconduct involving weapons, agreed with one or more
persons that at least one of them or another person would engage in conduct constituting the
offense, and MAHIN KHAN committed overt acts in furtherance of the conspiracy to wit:
furnished instructions on how to construct an improvised explosive device and directed another
3
individual to purchase materials to build an improvised explosive device, in violation of A.R.S.
- § 13-1003, 13-3102(A)(2), 13-3201(A)(8)(viii), 13-701, 13-702, 13-703, and 13-801.
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 21-425, the State Grand Jurors find that the offenses described
above were committed in Maricopa and Pima Counties, Arizona.
(A “True Bill”)
MARK BRNOVICH
ATTORNEY GENERAL
STATE OF ARIZONA
Dated:
SCOTT W. BLAKE Foreperson of the State Grand Jury