A U.S. soldier pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS and forwarding classified documents including airspace management, information on service members, and a drone to track troop movements.
Thirty-five-year-old Ikaika Erik Kang, stationed in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, pleaded guilty to four counts of attempting to support ISIS, the U.S. Department of Justice announced late Wednesday night.
"Kang swore to defend the United States as a member of our military, but betrayed his country by swearing allegiance to ISIS and attempting to provide material support to the foreign terrorist organization," said Assistant Attorney General John Demers. "With today's plea, he will be held accountable for his crimes. I want to thank all of the agents, analysts, and prosecutors who are responsible for this case."
Kang met numerous times with undercover FBI agents who he believed were connected to ISIS and provided them with classified air traffic control documents, aircraft types, radio frequencies, and routes.
He also provided the U.S. military's "weapons file" which included all the armament capabilities of the armed forces, according to the DOJ.
Documents containing personally identifiable information of U.S. service members, military clothing, and gear were also turned over by Kang. Additionally, he provided a drone which he indicated could be used by ISIS to track U.S. troop movements.
In early 2016 Kang became sympathetic to ISIS and watched propaganda videos. He also made statements supporting the terrorist group and expressed his desire to join ISIS. He met numerous times with undercover FBI agents in 2018 and provided them with the classified documents, the DOJ said.
Kang then swore an oath to ISIS and its leader last July in a ceremony conducted by the purported sheikh, Abu Bakr al-Baghadi, and he kissed the ISIS flag. He was arrested after he said he wanted to get his rifle and head to downtown Honolulu and Waikiki strip and start shooting.
"This is the first case in the State of Hawaii where someone was convicted of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization," said Special Agent in Charge Sean Kaul. "This should serve as a reminder that even though we are 2,500 miles from the U.S. Mainland, these crimes can and do happen everywhere."
As part of his plea Kang agreed to serve 25 years in prison and at least 20 years, and up to life, of supervised release. Kang will be sentenced on Dec. 10.