Ex-Marine turned ISIS sympathizer sentenced to 15 years for plotting San Francisco terror attack

A California judge has sentenced a 27-year-old California man to 15 years in federal prison for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State and plotting a terrorist attack at Pier 39 in San Francisco, KPIX-TV reported.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill handed down the sentence to Everitt Aaron Jameson of Modesto on Monday as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors.

In June, the former U.S. Marine pleaded guilty to voicing his support for and aiding a terrorist organization last year between September and December.

What happened?

The FBI began watching Jameson after he "liked" or "loved" Facebook posts about terrorist attacks and the Islamic State, according to court documents, CNN reported. He also expressed support for the New York City terrorist attack on Oct. 31, 2017.

Undercover FBI agents, who posed as ISIS supporters, made contact with Jameson and interacted with him. In later communications, Jameson expressed his readiness to do whatever was needed and that his military training in combat and war had prepared him to do the job.

During another meeting with an undercover FBI agent, whom he believed was associated with Islamic State leadership, Jameson offered to provide financial support and commit violent acts.

Jameson told the agent about his desire to use explosives in an attack on Pier 39, a popular Bay Area tourist destination, adding that Christmas Day "was the perfect day for the attack," according to CNN.

He added that he could get PVC pipe, nails, and powder for explosive devices. Jameson also requested remote timing devices from the agent.

What else?

“There is no place in the United States for terrorists and terrorist sympathizers who threaten innocent people, and the National Security Division will relentlessly seek to identify them and bring them to justice,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said in court, KPIX reported.

“Jameson put his fellow Americans at risk by supporting ISIS and planning an attack on behalf of the terrorist organization. This is unacceptable, and I am grateful for the hardworking agents and prosecutors who are responsible for this successful result," Demers said.

Jameson also received a life term of supervised probation.