A Hawaii-based soldier in August pleaded guilty to four counts of providing material support for a foreign terrorist organization. Sgt. 1st Class Ikaika Kang admitted to providing the Islamic State with various military documents and a drone, the Associated Press reported.
The saga began in early 2016 when Kang became sympathetic to the terrorist organization. In August 2016, the FBI launched an investigation by interviewing those he knew, worked or lived with.
Kang handed ISIS the United States' military weapon's file, information about the mobile airspace management system, multiple military manuals and documents with personal information about military members, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson said. Because of Kang's security clearance as an air traffic controller, he had access to call signs, mission procedures and radio frequencies, which he handed over to the terrorist organization.
During a meeting with undercover agents he believed to be ISIS members, Kang pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State in both English and Arabic. He also kissed an ISIS flag given to him by someone he thought to be one of the leaders of the group.
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After that declaration, Kang said he was ready to grab his rifle and fight, that he wanted to “just go to downtown Honolulu and Waikiki strip and start shooting."
That's when he was arrested.
"In exchange for Kang’s guilty plea, prosecutors said they won’t charge him with additional crimes, including violations of the espionage act, other terrorism-related laws and federal firearms statutes. He’s expected to receive a 25-year sentence as part of the plea agreement," the Associated Press reported.
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