Alabama jihadist makes plea: An accused jihadist, Randy “Rasheed” Wislon of Alabama, pleaded guilty on Friday in court over a plot to go to Africa and kill in the name of Islam.
Wilson answered “Yes, ma’am” after Judge Kristi DuBose asked if he understood the charges against him, reported Reuters.
“Either we kill and defeat them or they are going to kill and defeat us,” assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Bodnar quoted Wilson as saying in regards to his apparent plot, which was to ”murder, maim and kidnap” people.
Under a plea deal, the prosecution has sought a 15-year prison term for Wilson, reported Al.com.
“He just doesn’t have confidence that the legal defense would be able to overcome all of the emotions wrapped around this right now. Certainly, the last week hasn’t made it any easier,” defense attorney Dom Soto told the website.
Soto previously said that the court should drop charges against Wilson, who was raised in Mobile and Birmingham, because his comments were protected by the First Amendemtn.
“It was his decision to plea. I still maintain this is a free speech case. I have much more confidence in the jury system than he does,” he said.
Wilson was arrested in December at the Atlanta airport while boarding a flight with his family to Mauritania.
The same day, agents arrested 25-year-old Mohammad Abdul Rahman Abukhdair, Wilson’s former business partner. Charges against Abukhdair are still pending and his trial is set for August.
Federal prosecutors portrayed Wilson as an Islamic radical who wanted to reunite with Omar Hammami, an American who also grew up in Alabama and became one of the most well-known jihadists in Somalia.
Wilson told DuBose on Friday that he believed the government could prove that he intended to participate in violent jihad overseas.
“He knew at all times that he was participating in an illegal conspiracy,” Bodnar said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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