Indiana Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Information on Explosives

Marlonn Hicks, 30, of Crown Point, Indiana, pleaded guilty to distributing information regarding the manufacture and use of explosives, with the intent that the information be used for and in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B. McCord, U.S.  Attorney David Capp of the Northern District of Indiana and Special Agent in Charge W. Jay Abbott of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office announced the charges.

According to the documents in this case, Hicks allegedly communicated online with multiple individuals who were cooperating with the government. During these communications, Hicks allegedly expressed a desire to travel to territory under the control of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Within days of the Orlando, Florida terrorist attack, Hicks indicated that he would likely die in the U.S. and subsequently discussed the means by which he planned to carry out an attack within the U.S. During one of these online communications, Hicks sent a government source a document containing detailed instructions on how to make explosives. When Hicks sent the document to the government source, Hicks believed that the government source was a like-minded individual who would use the document and instructions to conduct an attack within the U.S. using explosives.  Hicks intended the attack to be carried out in the name of ISIL and in support of ISIL.

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Indianapolis Division and the Indianapolis Joint Terrorism Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Indiana.