The FBI announced Friday that it had arrested all five New Mexico compound suspects. The suspects were now being charged with violating federal firearms and conspiracy laws.
The announcement comes after local prosecutors dropped charges in the death of a 3-year-old boy at the compound site. Taos County District Attorney Donald Gallegos said Friday his office would now seek grand jury indictments involving the death. Gallegos said seeking indictments would allow more time to gather evidence.
"The defendants, Jany Leveille a Haitian national illegally in the United States, Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, Hujrah Wahhaj, Subhanah Wahhaj, and Lucas Morton, are charged in a criminal complaint that was filed earlier today in the U.S. District Court for the District of NM," the bureau said in a statement.
"The criminal complaint charges Jany Leveille with being an alien unlawfully in possession of firearms and ammunition in the District of NM ."The criminal complaint charges the other four defendants with aiding and abetting Leveille in committing the offense, and with conspiring with Leveille to commit the offense."
District Judge Emilio Chavez dismissed charges against Lucas Morton, Subhannah Wahhaj and Hujrah Wahhaj, ruling that authorities violated the state’s “10-day rule.”
3 ‘EXTREMIST MUSLIM’ NEW MEXICO COMPOUND SUSPECTS RELEASED AFTER JUDGE DROPS ALL CHARGES
The five suspects were arrested after a raid following a monthslong inquiry into the disappearance of Abdul-ghani Wahhaj, 3. The boy, who had severe medical issues, disappeared from Georgia in December. The occupants of the compound were "most likely heavily armed and considered extremist of the Muslim belief," an official said at the time.
Taos County Sheriff's deputies discovered 11 children at the compound, who were taken into the custody of state child welfare workers. On Aug. 6, a child’s remains were found on the property.
Siraj Ibn Wahhaj was allegedly training children to commit school shootings, according to prosecutors, who later alleged that the juveniles were taught how to use firearms, as well as tactical techniques, in order to kill teachers, law enforcement and other institutions they found corrupt.
Health officials confirmed earlier this month that the discovered remains were positively identified as the 3-year-old's.
all five suspects without incident were arrested.
Leveille faces a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment and deportation upon completion of her sentence if convicted, according to the bureau.
If convicted of aiding and abetting Leveille, Leveille’s co-defendants could each face a statutory maximum penalty of 10 years of imprisonment. If convicted on the conspiracy charge, meanwhile, the five could each face a statutory penalty of five years' imprisonment.
http://time.com/5384652/fbi-new-mexico-compound-arrest/
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/31/fbi-arrests-five-new-mexico-compound-suspects-days-after-multiple-charges-were-dropped.html
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Factfinder2 ago
Notice that previously dropped child abuse charges other than those directly surrounding the death of the 3-year-old are not being readdressed. The feds are only looking at firearm violations and conspiracy to commit firearm violations--nothing about the kids.
Samsquamch ago
It's because they were charged with child abuse crimes but the prosecution failed to present the charges within 10 days at their preliminary hearing. I don't know why the prosecutors missed something so obvious, and I also don't know if those charges can be levied against the suspects again.
I believe the FBI is arresting them on anything that can't be legally challenged at the moment while they figure out what to do about the other charges. There will be plenty of time to bring up the child death as the case moves forward; I can only hope it doesn't get swept under the rug somehow.
MrShekelstein ago
Any time the government pretends to be dumb, they're doing it on purpose.
Janice0771 ago
I do legal work for the State of Michigan and there isn't an elected prosecutor in the world who misses the ten-day deadline in a child protection case. There isn't an elected prosecutor in the world who would want that on his/her record and announced to the public.
There is far more to this than we're hearing, and enough that this prosecutor put his livelihood on the line for it, I'm betting.
MrShekelstein ago
The prosecutor probably works for the same people the judges do so all we can do is let the public know who the traitors are right now.