WASHINGTON -- U.S. prosecutors said a transit system police officer in Washington, D.C. has been arrested on charges he attempted to provide material support to Islamic State militants.
It is the first time terrorism charges have been brought in the United States against a U.S. law enforcement officer.
The Justice Department alleged on August 3 that Nicholas Young, 36, had acquired codes for gift cards that were intended for the mobile-messaging accounts that Islamic State has used as part of its recruitment efforts.
Young then allegedly sent the codes to an FBI informant whom he believed to be working for Islamic State, the department said in a statement.
The department said Young also traveled to Libya and worked alongside rebels seeking to overthrow the country’s ruler, Muammar Qaddafi.
And he allegedly met with an undercover FBI agent, advising him how to evade law enforcement as he left the United States to join the militant group.
Young's initial court appearance was scheduled later on August 3.
