Lutchman pleads guilty in ISIS-inspired plot
The Rochester man accused of an ISIS-inspired plot to kill Rochester bar patrons pleaded guilty to a federal crime Thursday.
Emanuel Lutchman, 26, 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 at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 15.
He allegedly plotted to attack patrons at a Rochester bar, the Merchants Grill, on New Year's Eve with a machete and knives that he had purchased from Walmart on Hudson Avenue.
► More: Andreatta: The truthiness about Lutchman
Providing "material support" to a terrorist organization is a sweeping law designed to battle terrorism in the United States.
Lutchman told an FBI informant that he was inspired by the terrorist Islamic State of Syria, or ISIS, and wanted to conduct an attack on American soil.
Lutchman, who has a history of mental illness, admitted in court that he is currently taking Zoloft and another prescription drug for his depression and mood swings.
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.
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.” She doesn’t believe her nephew did anything he admitted to and added that she asked her nephew to take his case to trial.
"That’s too many holes in the story for me," Moody said.
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 ISIS, 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 ISIS.
Earlier in December, Lutchman obtained an online document written by an ISIS member in Syria. The document detailed how ISIS 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 ISIS member, Abu Issa Al-Amriki. The plea agreement states that Lutchman initiated online communication with Al-Amriki on Dec. 25.
Al-Amriki described the Islamic State as a "dream come true." Al-Amriki, who was killed with his wife Umm Issa Al-Amrikiah by a U.S. airstrike in Syria on April 22, maintained communication with Lutchman.
Lutchman "expressed his hatred for everything in America, and his intention to make hijra (meaning migration or journey to join ISIL overseas)," the plea agreement states.
Al-Amriki said he would help Lutchman enter Syria after showing his devotion to ISIS 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 ISIS, Lutchman admitted in court.
Lutchman was also directed to write an oath of allegiance and to create a video to show the same. He was instructed to send those to the ISIS member, so they could be posted online after the planned attack.
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 ISIS 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 ISIS 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.'" He wanted something "quiet and simple" in order make hijra. Lutchman told "Individual C" that he was ready to lose his family.
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 ISIS 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.
Lutchman identified the Merchants Grill as a potential target. He said that he wanted to use knives and machetes during the attack.
"Lutchman tried unsuccessfully to obtain a machete from at least one other individual in the Rochester area," Harvey said. 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.
Geraci asked Lutchman what the zip ties and ammonia would be for. Lutchman responded, "To bind them (potential victims) and to clean up any DNA or blood evidence left behind. "Individual C" paid $40 for the supplies. Lutchman said he would reimburse "C."
They then discussed making a video before the attack to "explain their rationale" and swear allegiance to the leader of ISIS. Lutchman planned to release the video after the attack. Over the next two days, Lutchman and Al-Amriki discussed the operation and how it would bring Lutchman closer to Allah.
On Dec. 30, Lutchman met with "Individual C" again and made a video in which he pledged his allegiance to ISIS. Lutchman wore a scarf during the video, concealing everything but his eyes. He said, "The blood that you spill of the Muslims overseas, we gonna spill the blood of the kuffar (here)." 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.
Gary Craig contributed to this report.