Men Indicted for Lying and Obstructing Justice in ISIL Terrorism Case

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Owners of a Fairfax gaming center were indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and make false statements involving international terrorism, obstruction of justice, and making false statements involving international terrorism.

According to allegations in the indictment, Michael Queen, 28, of Woodbridge, and Soufian Amri, 32, of Falls Church, lied to FBI agents to prevent them from learning about and investigating their friend Haris Qamar’s support of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Queen and Amri knew that Qamar had attempted to travel overseas to join ISIL in 2014, yet they lied to and misled the FBI by saying that the only person they knew who might travel to join ISIL was a “tall, thin, Indian” individual. Queen later told Qamar that Queen and Amri gave the FBI the name of a Hindu individual as someone who might support ISIL. Queen told Qamar, “I’m never going to throw a Muslim underneath the bus to try to do the right thing.”

Qamar was sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison on February 17 for attempting to provide material support to ISIL.

Queen and Amri each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia; and Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, made the announcement after the indictment was returned. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gordon D. Kromberg and Colleen E. Garcia are prosecuting the case.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:17-cr-50.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.