RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Irek Ilgiz Hamidullin, 55, a Russian national and former Russian army tank commander, was convicted today by a federal grand jury for plotting to give material support to terrorists, plotting to shoot down American helicopters, and to kill U.S. and Afghan soldiers, planning to use a weapon of mass destruction, and various other charges related to a 2009 attack he led on U.S. and Afghan forces in Afghanistan.
In October 2014, Hamidullin was indicted by a federal grand jury followed by another indictment on April 23, 2014. According to the court evidence and documents provided at the trial, Hamidullin had been in contact with top-level Taliban and Haqqani Network personnel. On Nov. 28, 2009, Hamidullin led a group of fighters in an attack on U.S. and Afghan forces at Camp Leyza, located near the border of Pakistan in the Khost Province of Afghanistan. The attack had been planned for months, while he also received the approval of the Taliban and Haqqani Network, recruited other fighters, and gathered weapons for the attack including: IED’s, heavy machine guns, and a shoulder-fired rocket with the goal of shooting down U.S. helicopters responding to the attack.
According to evidence presented on the night of the trial on Nov. 28, 2009, Hamidullin and his fighters started the attack by firing into amp Leyza. Not long after the attack began, two U.S. helicopters responded to the attack, that which Hamidullin knew from his months of planning the attack. He then placed himself on a nearby hillside where he had a clear view of the open plane. As the helicopters came, he commanded his fighters to fire the anti-aircraft weapons that he has carefully placed in the area. Neither helicopter was fired at due to a malfunction from both weapons. He then commanded his fighters to pack up their remaining gear and return to Pakistan. During their return, U.S. forces identified and killed approximately 20 of Hamidullin’s fighters.
The next morning, as U.S. and Afghan forces were conducting a battle damage assessment, Hamidullin was found hiding on the battlefield. After a brief firefight with U.S. Army soldiers, the two insurgents were killed and Hamidullin was wounded and captured.
“Irek Hamidullin was convicted of numerous terrorism offenses in connection with orchestrating and conducting a violent attack on Afghan and U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2009, including conspiring to kill members of the U.S. military,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “Hamidullin was captured and detained by the U.S. military in Afghanistan and brought to the United States for trial. This case once again demonstrates our resolve to find and bring to justice, using all available tools, those who target U.S. citizens and interests around the world.”
“This case is an example of our criminal justice system functioning exactly the way it was designed,” said U.S. Attorney Boente. “I want to commend our trial team for their hard work in this case, bringing it from indictment to conviction in 10 months. I would also like to thank our partners at the FBI’s Washington Field Office for their efforts on this case.”
“Hamidullin’s conviction today should serve as a reminder to terrorists around the globe that the FBI is committed to finding justice for Americans who are attacked both overseas and at home,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge McCabe. “Along with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we will aggressively bring to justice those who seek to kill U.S. troops and who provide material support to terrorist organizations.”
Hamidullin faces a maximum penalty of life in prison when sentenced on Nov. 6, 2015. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
