Man pleads guilty in plot to attack New York bar
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A man accused of an Islamic State-inspired plot to kill bar patrons here pleaded guilty Thursday to federal crimes.
Emanuel Lutchman, 26, of Rochester pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorism organization in front of U.S. District Judge Frank P. Geraci Jr.
Lutchman faces 20 years in federal prison and lifelong post-release supervision. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 15.
On New Year's Eve, Lutchman allegedly plotted to attack patrons at the Merchants Grill here. He had purchased a machete and knives to help him carry out his plan, prosecutors said.
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He is accused of providing material support to a terrorist organization, a sweeping law designed to battle terrorism in the United States. Lutchman allegedly told an FBI informant that the terrorist Islamic State of Syria, or ISIS, was his inspiration and he wanted to conduct an attack on American soil.
Lutchman has a history of mental illness, and has been in Monroe County Jail since his arrest.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Harvey read the seven pages of the 16-page plea agreement that outlined Lutchman's movements, actions and online activities.
"Mr. Lutchman did far more than talk and plan," U.S. Attorney William Hochul said. "He took over specific actions. Those specific actions included a series of purchases he made at a local retail store."
Hochul said Lutchman purchased several other items that weren't discussed in court or outlined in the plea agreement.
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When asked if he thought Lutchman would carry through on his planned attack, Hochul said Lutchman took all the steps necessary to do so.
"Nobody has ever mentioned mental illness, other than perhaps family members, who are understandably sympathetic to Mr. Lutchman," Hochul said. "As far as the court proceedings are concerned, as far as counsel for Mr. Lutchman is concerned, there has never been one allegation that this was not a knowing and intentional plan on his part to kill Americans."
Lutchman's aunt, Shirley Moody, said her nephew has been dealing with mental illness since the age of 13.
"I think he has serious issues," Moody said. "And I think he just pleaded to it, because he’s sick of them harassing his family."
She reiterated, “We’re not terrorists.”
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According to the plea agreement, Lutchman maintained three social media accounts, two on Facebook and one on Google+, which he used to "post expressions of support" for Islamic State, share propaganda videos, and "digital versions of documents relating to ISIL and violent jihad."
The profile picture for one of the Facebook accounts included the words "I am a Muslim and I Support Islamic State" around the black flag used by Islamic State, also known as ISIL or ISIS.
Earlier in December, Lutchman obtained an online document written by an Islamic State member in Syria. The document detailed how Islamic supporters could travel overseas, "preparation for violent jihad," and how to avoid apprehension. The document also outlined how to kill "kuffar (meaning non-believers or infidels) in their own land and different killing methods."
The document contained contact information for another Islamic member, Abu Issa Al-Amriki. The plea agreement states that Lutchman initiated online communication with Al-Amriki on Dec. 25.
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Al-Amriki said he would help Lutchman enter Syria after showing his devotion to Islamic State through the killing of non-believers. Lutchman told Al-Amriki that "he was arranging an operation with a 'brother.'" That would prove his allegiance to Islamic State, Lutchman admitted in court.
Later in December, Lutchman was communicating with "Individuals A and B," according to the plea agreement. Those two unnamed individuals were cooperating with the FBI. Lutchman talked to those individuals about his communication with Al-Amriki and another Islamic State member.
"Individual A arranged" for Lutchman to meet "Individual C," another person who was cooperating with the FBI. Lutchman referred to these informants as his brothers and said they would be involved in his planned attack.
On Dec. 27, Lutchman told Al-Amriki that he would be meeting with the three informants. Al-Amriki told Lutchman to make videos before the attack, which Islamic State could use. Al-Amriki promised to "vouch" for Lutchman after the attack.
The following morning, Lutchman met with "Individual C" for the first time. Lutchman said "he wanted to execute a plan so they could be 'in and out.'"
Al-Amriki told Lutchman not to share the details of the planned attack with him. Al-Amriki just wanted to make sure the videos of Lutchman's preparations and allegiance to Islamic State were sent to him before the operation. Lutchman met "Individual C" later that day and said "he wanted to target a club or bar and proposed that they kidnap a couple of people and kill them," the plea agreement stated. He said that he wanted to use knives and machetes during the attack.
On Dec. 29, Lutchman and "Individual C" went to Walmart to buy weapons and supplies. In three separate transactions, they bought two black ski masks, a machete, zip ties, ammonia and latex gloves.
On Dec. 30, Lutchman met with "Individual C" again and made a video in which he pledged his allegiance to Islamic State. Immediately after completing the video, Lutchman was arrested.
Authorities seized the smartphone he made the video on and also all of the supplies purchased the day before from Walmart.
Al-Amriki was killed by a U.S. airstrike in Syria on April 22.
Follow Gary Craig and Will Cleveland on Twitter: @gcraig1 and @WillCleveland13
