Florida man gets life for attempting to possess weapon of mass destruction

Harlem Suarez, 23, also known as “Almlak Benitez” (Photo: Facebook)

A Florida man was sentenced to life in prison for attempting to get his hands on a weapon of mass destruction and for attempting to provide material support to ISIS.

According to a news release from the U.S. attorney’s office, 23-year-old Harlem Suarez, also known as “Amlak Benitez,” was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Jose E. Martinez. Life in prison was handed down for attempting to possess a weapon of mass destruction, and a concurrent sentence of 20 years was given for trying to provide material support to ISIS.

Suarez, a citizen of Cuba and U.S. legal resident, was convicted of the charges on Jan. 27 at trial in Key West, Florida.

Evidence at trial showed Suarez posted extremist rhetoric and promoted ISIS on Facebook. Suarez also told an FBI confidential informant that he was trying to make a “time bomb” and purchased parts in order to do so.

Suarez wanted the “time bomb” to contain galvanized nails and to conceal the device in a backpack and detonate it remotely. He planned to bury the bomb at a Key West beach and detonate it.

The sentence was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B. McCord, U.S. Attorney Benjamin G. Greenberg for the Southern District of Florida, Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office, and members of the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).

Several different agencies worked together on the investigation, including the FBI; South Florida JTTF, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; Key West Police Department, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office; and Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office.