Enrique Marquez Court Documents: Syed Farook’s Friend Charged

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Enrique Marquez. (Facebook)

A childhood friend and neighbor of San Bernardino attacker Syed Rizwan Farook has been charged by federal prosecutors.

Enrique Marquez, 24, was arrested Thursday and charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, making a false statement in connection with the acquisition of firearms and fraud and misuse of visas, permits and other documents.

He purchased the two rifles used in the attack, the FBI says.

Marquez, who converted to Islam in 2007, is not being charged in connection with the San Bernardino terror attack, but for a plot he allegedly previously planned alongside Farook. They planned on attacking Riverside Community College, where they both attended school, in 2011, purchasing guns, ammunition and tactical gear. The duo also hatched a plan to attack a highway during rush hour with explosives and guns. They then backed off the plots and grew apart, the FBI says in court documents.

The guns bought by Marquez were used in the San Bernardino attack, the FBI says. He also purchased “smokeless powder” used in pipe bombs built by Farook and his wife. Marquez was at work at the time of the San Bernardino shooting, the FBI says, and was not involved in the plot.

A FBI agent says in the complaint that Farook’s wife, Tashfeen Malik, made a Facebook post shortly after the shooting, pledging allegiance to ISIS’ leader. A day after the shooting, Marquez called 911 to report his neighbor used guns he bought in the San Bernardino shooting. The transcript of the 911 call is included in the complaint.

Read the criminal complaint filed by prosecutors below:

Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people in the December 2 attack on a holiday party being held by Farook’s employer, the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. The couple was later killed by police following a chase and shootout hours after the terror assault.

Marquez was interviewed by FBI agents for several days.

In addition to the gun and terror chargs, he is accused of entering into a fraudulent marriage with the sister of the wife of Farook’s brother. He was paid $200 a month so that she could obtain a visa.

Marquez worked as a security guard at Wal-Mart, the Los Angeles Times reports.The newspaper says he was known to be shy and wanted to join the Navy.

“Enrique wasn’t a violent kid. He wasn’t a tough guy. … That’s what’s spooky about it,” Jerry Morgan, who runs Morgan’s Tavern, where Marquez also worked, told the Times.