RFP Staff
♦ Former Salisbury, N.C. resident, founder of the Islamic Center of Salisbury across the street from Salisbury High School, and avowed ISIS (now known as ISIL) follower, Donald Ray Morgan, 44, pleaded guilty to terrorism charges today in a Winston-Salem Federal Court. Among the crimes Morgan is charged with are attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and possession of a firearm by a felon. According to federal authorities Morgan is also charged in a bill of information with attempted provision of material support to a foreign terrorist organization. His offenses are punishable by a maximum of 15 years and a $250,000 fine.
According to John Carlin, Assistant Attorney General for National Security: “Today’s plea represents our continued commitment to confronting those who attempt to travel abroad to support terrorist organizations. Preventing individuals from joining ISIL and holding accountable those who attempt to provide material support to the terrorist organization remains one of our highest priorities.”
U.S. attorney for the Middle District of North Carolina Ripley Rand said today’s plea by Mr. Morgan is a sad reminder that those who wish to aid foreign terrorist organizations can come from any community and from any background. “We will continue to do everything we can to work effectively with our law enforcement partners and protect innocent people from terrorist activity, whether here in the United States or abroad.
Besides being the Founder of the Islamic Center of Salisbury, N.C. Morgan once worked as a Rowan County Sheriff’s deputy, a court bailiff in Salisbury, and as a guard at the Rowan County Detention Center. He was terminated from the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office and from the East Spencer police where he was a reserve for a short time. Morgan spent two years in prison for shooting up Las Palmas on what is now known as Brick Street. At one time Morgan aspired to be a rapper in the mold of Vanilla Ice.
Morgan, according to court records, knowingly attempted to provide support and resources starting in January 2014 until on or about Aug. 2, including his own services, to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Morgan is also said to unsuccessfully attempted to travel from Lebanon to Syria to join ISIL/ISIS. Morgan employed social media and an interview with an American journalist (NBC) to express his support for ISIL/ISIS and violent terrorist activities.
Morgan was first arrested on August 2nd, 2014 at JFK International Airport in N.Y.C. on a federal indictment for possession of a firearm by a felon. At the time Morgan was flying back from Lebanon after arranging a firearm sale with a federal undercover agent. Morgan was charged due to an AK-47 he sold online in 2012. In May of this year Morgan was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury for weapons possession. Morgan faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for weapons possession by a felon.
Morgan’s sentencing is expected on February 18th, 2015.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Charlotte Division, and Resident Agency Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). The Greensboro JTTF consists of the following agencies: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Greensboro Police Department, Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, High Point Police Department and the Winston-Salem Police Department. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Green with the assistance of the Counterterrorism Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Previous articles in the RFP about Donald Morgan:
