Jamaat ul-Fuqra

In April 2005, the National Criminal Justice Reference Service made available a report (94 pages) that was published in September 2004 (as part of a federal grant) by the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). The report is titled, "Identifying the Links between White-Collar Crime and Terrorism" [subtitle: "For the Enhancement of Local and State Law Enforcement Investigation and Prosecution"]

This report focused on the white collar crimes "associated with terrorism, including credit card fraud, insurance fraud, identity theft, intellectual property crime, investment fraud, money laundering, immigration fraud, computer crime, and tax evasion." These crimes are committed to support other activities in which the group may be involved. The case study that made up the bulk of this report was a very large multi-agency investigation of Jamaat ul-Fuqra by officials in Colorado that spread across many states and led to several convictions.

"Members of the Fuqra group have raised money by taking advantage of a variety of social services programs, including worker’s compensation, public health care, welfare, and food stamps programs. Other crimes committed by Fuqra members include the creation and use of false identification cards, birth certificates, and other forged documents..."

I read through this report and took note of a number of what I thought were some key details about the group. The group has been around awhile. The report says, "The first investigation of Fuqra was initiated by the FBI in 1983," and it refers to Fuqra as "one of the most elusive terrorist groups resident in the U.S."

A few more details -

"Over the past few decades, it is believed that the U.S. Fuqra has been preparing for and engaging in a holy war (Jihad) against individuals and groups they perceive to be their enemy. These enemies include Israel, the Nation of Islam, Hindus, Ansar Muslims, East Indians, Jews, the Jewish Defense League, Hare Krishnas, Buddists, and the U.S. government. Since the formation of Fuqra in the U.S., it is suspected that Fuqra members and associates have been involved in at least thirteen murders and sixteen bombings."

While most of their violent activities have involved targeted murders and bombings of specific ethnic/religious organizations, Fuqra has conducted other activities of concern including surveillance of various infrastructure targets including major electrical, gas, and telephone lines. They are also experienced in the use and manufacture of homemade weapons, explosives, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Traditionally, terrorist groups have a vetting process for new members to identify certain characteristics or behaviors before proceeding with indoctrination. "In the case of Fuqra, members have been recruited from prisons."

"Most, though not all, of the members of Fuqra are African-American, U.S. citizens who have adopted extremist beliefs and live in communal environments, or “Jamaats.” It is believed that over thirty-five (35) Jamaats have existed in the U.S. since 1980, in addition to more than a dozen “covert training compounds” in Colorado, Texas, New York, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, California, Oregon, Washington, Maryland, Alabama, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Tennessee.... In 1991, Canadian authorities also discovered a 232-acre compound in Ontario that housed at least sixteen Fuqra members."

I'll have more about these locations and other details from the report in another post.

The full NW3C report can be downloaded as a PDF - here.

UPDATE: (Thanks to Michelle Malkin for the link!)