USA v. Begolly, Emerson
New Bethlehem, PA

Homegrown

[EDVA] Emerson Winfield Begolly of New Bethlehem, Pa., was indicted by a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Va., for allegedly soliciting Islamic extremists to engage in acts of terrorism within the United States and posting bomb-making instruction materials online. On or about July 26, 2010, in a posting on the radical Ansar al-Mujahideen English Forum (AMEF), Begolly discussed favorably the 9/11 and Beslan attacks and the kidnappings and murders of Nick Berg and Daniel Pearl. He then suggested attacks on civilian planes, financial institutions, military installations, Jewish schools, and daycare centers, and advocated the taking and killing of hostages. Begolly was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for soliciting others to engage in acts of terrorism within the United States and for using a firearm.