Overview
- U.S. District Judge Scott L. Palk imposed the statutory maximum 180-month sentence on Nov. 19 in Oklahoma City.
- Zada pleaded guilty as an adult on April 17 after being arrested at age 17 and agreed to a judicial removal order that permanently ends his lawful permanent resident status.
- Court records say Zada and co-conspirator Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi obtained two AK-47–style rifles and about 500 rounds of ammunition for a planned 2024 Election Day attack on behalf of ISIS.
- Tawhedi pleaded guilty on June 13 to providing material support to ISIS and to terrorism-related firearms offenses, faces up to 35 years in prison, and awaits a sentencing date.
- The FBI Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force led the investigation that thwarted the plot with October 2024 arrests, and an FBI agent testified Tawhedi pledged allegiance to ISIS via Telegram.