Man sentenced to 15 years for plotting San Francisco attack

UPDATE: 8/6/2018 2:39 p.m. A California man who told undercover agents that he wanted to carry out a Christmas Day bombing at a popular San Francisco tourist spot has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill issued the sentence Monday, which came after 27-year-old Everitt Aaron Jameson of Modesto, California admitted under a plea deal in June that he tried to aid a terrorist organization.

Jameson planned the attack during talks with undercover FBI agents, including one he thought was with the Islamic State group. Authorities said Jameson offered to carry out violent acts and provide money for the terrorist organization.

Defense attorney Charles Lee has said his client was having second thoughts and didn’t actually take steps to carry out the plot.

He was arrested Dec. 22.

PREVIOUS STORY: 6/4/2018 12:09 p.m. A man who told undercover agents that he wanted to carry out a Christmas Day bombing and shooting attack at a popular San Francisco tourist attraction will receive a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty in a federal case.

Everitt Aaron Jameson pled guilty Monday to attempting to aid a terrorist organization under a plea deal with federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors say Jameson, a former tow-truck driver from Modesto, California, told the undercover federal agents that he planned to use pipe bombs to channel victims into part of Pier 39 so he could shoot them.

Prosecutors are dropping a second charge of distributing bomb-making information under the plea agreement.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Defense attorney Charles Lee says his client was having second thoughts and didn’t actually take steps to carry out the plot.

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1/4/2018 4:24 p.m. A federal grand jury has indicted a California man on charges of plotting to use homemade bombs during a Christmas Day attack on San Francisco’s Pier 39.

The indictment Thursday says 26-year-old Everitt Aaron Jameson intended to use pipe bombs to funnel people into an area of the popular tourist destination so he could shoot them.

The indictment replaces a criminal complaint against the Modesto tow-truck driver, who is also charged with attempting to aid a terrorist organization and distributing information relating to destructive devices.

The FBI arrested Jameson on Dec. 22 after he talked about his plans to undercover agents, including one he thought was associated with the Islamic State group.

Assistant federal defender Charles Lee did not immediately return telephone and email messages from The Associated Press.

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CBS SF– A former U.S. Marine from Northern California has been arrested for allegedly offering to carry out a terrorist attack on Christmas Day in San Francisco at the Pier 39 tourist attraction.

FBI agents arrested 26-year-old Everitt Aaron Jameson in Modesto on Friday morning, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

According to the criminal complaint unsealed Friday, Jameson “has espoused radical jihadi beliefs, including authoring social media posts that are supportive of terrorism, communicating with people he believes share his jihadi views and offering to provide services to such people …”

Jameson allegedly detailed his plans for the terror attack with an undercover FBI agent whom he believed was associated with the senior leadership of ISIS. The alleged plot involved setting off explosives remotely in one area of Pier 39 and then mowing people down with automatic rifle fire as they fled.

From the FBI complaint:

Jameson specifically named Pier 39 in San Francisco as a target location because he had been there before and knew that it was a heavily crowded area, and that, according to Jameson, no reconnaissance or site survey would be necessary (because Jameson already was familiar with the area). Jameson explained that he also desired to use explosives, and described a plan in which explosives could “tunnel” or “funnel” people into a location where Jameson could inflict casualties.

The complaint said Jameson suggested to the undercover agent that Christmas Day would be a “perfect day” for an attack. Jameson also told the agent “he did not have and did not need an escape plan because he was ready to die.”

The plot seemed to unravel earlier this week. Jameson told the agent that he had second thoughts about carrying out his plan, but agents had enough evidence to search his Modesto home, according to the complaint.

Rifles, a handgun and ammunition were also found during the search of his home.

During the search, FBI agents interviewed Jameson, who observed,

At periodic times during that interview Jameson state his support of ISIS and terrorism and discussed aspects of the plan to carry out an attack, noting that he would be happy if an attack was carried out.

Agents said a suicide note written by Jameson was also found at the home, which took credit for what was to be the Pier 39 attack. The note read, “You all have brought this upon yourselves,” and denounced this week’s announcement by President Donald Trump that the U.S. would recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Jameson graduated from basic recruit training in the U.S. Marine Corps in 2009 and earning the “sharpshooter” rifle qualification. He was later discharged for “fraudulent enlistment” after he failed to disclose a latent asthma history, according to the complaint.

Jameson is a Modesto resident who recently took a job as a tow truck driver. The Islamic Center of Merced told KPIX 5 he attended their facility and was a recent convert to Islam.

Jameson was scheduled to appear in federal court in Fresno at 2 p.m. PT. If convicted, he faces a maximum 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

San Francisco acting Mayor London Breed in a statement said while there were no known additional threats related to the investigation, the police department would be increasing its presence in the city as the FBI investigation continued.

“I am incredibly thankful for the efforts and commitment of our public safety officials during this time,” said Breed. “San Francisco is a city that proudly champions democracy, freedom and liberty. Sadly, that makes our home a target. We will not allow the thwarted attempts of one dangerous individual to disrupt our way of life. We will remain vigilant and continue to protect our city from any threat.”