Modesto Man Plotted Christmas Day Terror Attack on San Francisco’s Pier 39: FBI Affidavit

San Francisco rises behind Pier 39 in a file image. (Credit: iStock / Getty Images)

A Modesto man accused of being an ISIS sympathizer has been arrested after allegedly plotting a terror attack targeting San Francisco’s Pier 39 – a top tourist destination – on Christmas Day.

The allegations are made in an 11-page affidavit filed in federal court in Fresno on Friday and obtained by the New York Times. CNN confirmed the authenticity of the document.

After an FBI investigation, Everitt Aaron Jameson, a 26-year-old former U.S. Marine, was arrested and charged Friday with attempt to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. It’s not immediately clear when he will appear in court.

A spokeswoman for the FBI’s San Francisco office said she couldn’t comment on the case specifically.

“There is no specific or credible threat to the Bay Area. I can’t provide any other comment at this time,” FBI spokeswoman Katherine Zackel said.

According to court documents, FBI has arrested Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, on a terrorism charge. He’s accused of plotting an attack in San Fran. In letter FBI seized, he said “Long live Isil” and references Trump. https://t.co/A9bgQTjQQl 1/2

— Adam Goldman (@adamgoldmanNYT) December 22, 2017

Jameson allegedly told an FBI employee he wanted to combine elements of the Oct. 31 terror attack that left eight people dead after a truck plowed into a Lower Manhattan bike path with the 2015 terrorist shootings at San Bernardino’s Inland Regional Center.

The investigation began when Jameson was in September reported to the FBI by a confidential source as having “liked” pro-ISIS posts on Facebook, including one that depicted a Santa Claus in New York, holding a box of dynamite. He allegedly espoused “radical jihadi beliefs … supportive of terrorism” on social media.

The source began communicating with Jameson, according to the affidavit from FBI counterterrorism agent Christopher McKinney. In one exchange, Jameson sought to associate himself with the cause of accused New York City truck driver Sayfullo Saipov, McKinney wrote.

Shortly after Jameson applied to be a tow truck driver through the Modest Police Department, an undercover FBI employee began communicating with him.

On Dec. 16, Jameson met with another undercover FBI employee, allegedly telling that person “he was willing to do anything for ‘the cause,’” the affidavit states. The FBI employee told Jameson that he was working for Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Jameson was pleased, according to the affidavit.

Coit tower and the Transamerica Pyramid are seen from Pier 39 at San Francisco’s Fisherman Wharf on Oct. 18, 2017. (Credit: DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)

Jameson told the FBI employee he wanted to combine the New York truck attack tactics with the San Bernardino firearms killings, saying he was trained in the use of M-16 and AK-47 rifles.

He wanted to target Pier 39 on Christmas because he knew it was a heavily crowded area, and he was familiar with it. He hoped to use explosives to “funnel” people to an area where he could kill them.

Then, on Monday, an FBI employee mistakenly called Jameson from a Washington, D.C., phone number. Later that night, Jameson told the FBI contact that he had “reconsidered.”

“I also don’t think I can do this after all,” Jameson told the FBI employee.

But on Wednesday, a search warrant was served on Jameson’s Modesto home. It turns up a letter signed Dec. 16, stating in part:

You have brought this upon yourselves. … You’ve allowed Donald J Trump to give away Al Quds to the Jews. … We have penetrated and infiltrated your disgusting country.

Jameson had also left a will signed a month earlier, as well as multiple firearms and ammunition.

Jameson, who was at the home during the search, told FBI agents he was supportive of ISIS and would be happy if a terror attack was carried out, detailing aspect of his plan, according to the affidavit.

Jameson was a U.S. Marine trained as a sharpshooter but discharged for fraudulent enlistment because he failed to disclose his asthma, the affidavit states.

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In Signing Sweeping Tax Bill, Trump Questions Whether He is Getting Enough Credit

The bill was the most significant legislative victory for Mr. Trump, who has struggled during his first year in office to pass major bills that would deliver on campaign promises, even with Republicans having the majority in both chambers of Congress. Republicans promise the new tax law will benefit the middle class, but Democrats have warned that the law could be harmful to many lower-income taxpayers and to the nation’s fiscal health.

“It’s going to be a tremendous thing for the American people,” Mr. Trump said.

Before signing the legislation on Friday, Mr. Trump said in a Twitter post that companies were celebrating the bill’s passage with bonuses for workers.

Our big and very popular Tax Cut and Reform Bill has taken on an unexpected new source of “love” – that is big companies and corporations showering their workers with bonuses. This is a phenomenon that nobody even thought of, and now it is the rage. Merry Christmas!

—
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Dec. 22, 2017

During the signing ceremony, Mr. Trump said, “Corporations are literally going wild over this.” A handful of companies, including ATT, which is seeking government approval of a major acquisition of Time Warner, have announced that they would give bonuses to workers.

There was some discussion in Congress and at the White House that Mr. Trump should consider delaying the signing until early 2018 as a way to delay automatic spending cuts that could have been triggered by the tax cuts. In addition, some companies said that delay would give them more time to adjust to the major changes that the new tax code will mean for their businesses.

However, once Congress reached a deal this week to avoid the possibility of the spending cuts, White House officials signaled that Mr. Trump wanted to sign the bill into law as soon as possible.

Mr. Trump often reacts to television news, and Friday was no different. The president delayed his travel to Florida for the holidays by an hour to stave off potential criticism.

“Every one of the networks was saying, “Will he keep his promise?’ ” the president said.

Shortly after 10 a.m., Mr. Trump announced in a Twitter post that the bill would be signed “in 30 minutes.”

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Earlier in the morning, the president suggested that he would not get credit for what he said were extraordinary accomplishments for a first year.

With all my Administration has done on Legislative Approvals (broke Harry Truman’s Record), Regulation Cutting, Judicial Appointments, Building Military, VA, TAX CUTS REFORM, Record Economy/Stock Market and so much more, I am sure great credit will be given by mainstream news?

—
Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
Dec. 22, 2017

Under the new tax law, individual rates will be lowered, but those cuts are set to expire in 2025. The standard deduction, which will almost double, is likely to become more popular. The tax credit for children will also double, which Republicans have said will benefit lower-income families. The largest cut by far in the new tax law — which will not expire — benefits corporations.

The new law has been criticized by lawmakers representing states with high taxes, because the bill caps state and local tax deductions at $10,000.

The law also eliminates the Affordable Care Act’s mandate that most people have health insurance or pay a penalty. Mr. Trump has said that amounted to repealing President Barack Obama’s signature health care law, but 8.8 million Americans signed up for coverage, according to figures his administration announced on Thursday. The law is not repealed, but the mandate had been considered an important feature of it.

Mr. Trump also signed a stopgap spending bill in order to avoid a government shutdown. In addition to extending government funding, the bill includes $4 billion for missile defense, among other provisions.

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