Michael McWhorter, 29, and Joe Morris, 23, both of Clarence, Illinois, pleaded guilty today to multiple charges including federal civil rights charges in United States District Court in St. Paul, Minnesota.

United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota Erica H. MacDonald; United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois John C. Milhiser; Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Eric S. Dreiband; and Jill Sanborn, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Minneapolis Division, announced today’s guilty pleas.

“The defendants engaged in a violent multi-state crime spree that terrorized communities, including members of the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center in Minnesota. The defendants’ criminal acts are reprehensible and antithetical to our values as a nation. Every individual has the fundamental right to live life free from the threat of violence and discrimination, no matter who they are, what they believe, or where they worship,” said United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald. “The dedication and collaboration of our law enforcement partners across several jurisdictions to bring these defendants to justice is a powerful example of our unwavering devotion to seek justice for all victims, and to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law any individual or group that seeks to threaten another’s civil rights through the commission of such vile hate crimes.”

"We will continue to work with our federal and state partners to identify and prosecute dangerous and radical groups that choose to terrorize our communities,” said United States Attorney John C. Milhiser.

"All people are entitled to live free from violence and fear, regardless of their religion or place of worship," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. "The Justice Department is committed to holding hate crimes perpetrators accountable under the law for their dangerous and criminal actions against innocent community members."

“This crime was not only an attack on the intended target, it was meant to threaten and intimidate an entire community. Because of that wide-ranging impact, investigating this crime and others like it are high priority for the FBI,” said Jill Sanborn, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Minneapolis Division. “The FBI is charged with protecting civil rights and our agents in both the Minneapolis and Springfield field offices in conjunction with the Joint Terrorism Task Force swiftly investigated this case side by side with the ATF, the Bloomington Police Department and other law enforcement partners with one singular goal – to bring the bombers to justice and most importantly to help the  Dar al-Farooq community begin to feel safe and secure once again.”

Defendants McWhorter and Morris pleaded guilty in the District of Minnesota to federal charges that originated in both the District of Minnesota and the Central District of Illinois. The pleas to the charges originating in the Central District of Illinois were entered in Minnesota pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 20, which allows for the transfer of charges for the entry of guilty pleas and the imposition of sentence. McWhorter, Morris, and co-defendant Michael Hari, 47, were federally indicted on possession of a machine gun; conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats and violence (the Hobbs Act); and attempted arson, via a superseding indictment on May 2, 2018, in the Central District of Illinois. McWhorter, Morris, and Hari were indicted in the District of Minnesota on June 21, 2018, with federal civil rights charges, and possession and use of a destructive device in furtherance of a federal crime of violence.

McWhorter and Morris entered their guilty pleas earlier today before U.S. District Court Senior Judge Donovan Frank. Defendant Hari remains in custody in the Central District of Illinois.[1]

According to McWhorter’s and Morris’ guilty pleas, during the summer of 2017, Michael Hari started a militia group in central Illinois, which was eventually called  the “White Rabbits,” and which defendants McWhorter and Morris, together with others, joined.

According to McWhorter’s and Morris’ guilty pleas and documents filed in court, on August 4 and 5, 2017, McWhorter, Morris, and Hari drove in a rented truck from central Illinois to the Dar al-Farooq (“DAF”) Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, leaving their mobile phones in Illinois and avoiding toll roads in an attempt to remain undetected. The defendants stopped along the way to purchase diesel fuel and gasoline, which Hari mixed in a plastic container. About an hour outside of Minnesota, Hari disclosed to McWhorter and Morris that there was a pipe bomb in the truck (which had been created using previously purchased materials) and that they were going to bomb a mosque.

As admitted by McWhorter and Morris during their guilty plea hearings, the two, along with Hari, arrived at the DAF Islamic Center, at approximately five in the morning on August 5, 2017. Morris used a sledgehammer to break a window at the DAF Islamic Center and threw the plastic container containing the diesel fuel and gasoline mixture into the building. McWhorter then lit the fuse on the pipe bomb that Hari had built and threw the pipe bomb through the broken window at the DAF Islamic Center. According to the court documents, the window that was broken was part of the DAF Islamic Center Imam’s office. When the pipe bomb exploded, it ignited the mixture in the plastic container, causing extensive fire and smoke damage to the Imam’s office together with water damage caused when the building’s sprinkler system activated. McWhorter and Morris ran back to the truck, where Hari was waiting in the driver’s seat, and drove back to Illinois. At the time of the explosion, congregants were in the mosque for morning prayers, however, the Imam’s office was unoccupied and the bombing caused no fatalities or injuries.

According to their guilty pleas, Hari selected the DAF Islamic Center because it is an Islamic house of worship. McWhorter and Morris admitted that the bombing was an attempt to scare Muslims into believing they are not welcome in the United States, and should leave the country. The defendants also stated that the DAF Islamic Center was targeted, because they believed it was far enough away from central Illinois that the three thought it unlikely they would be suspected in the bombing.

As part of their guilty pleas, McWhorter and Morris admitted to participating in an armed home invasion in the town of Ambia, Indiana on December 16, 2017, where they, masquerading as police officers, carried firearms, including two that had been illegally converted into machine guns. McWhorter and Morris also conducted armed robberies of two Wal-Mart stores, along with co-defendant Hari, one in Watseka, Illinois, and one in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, on December 2, 2017 and December 17, 2017, respectively.

McWhorter and Morris also admitted that along with co-defendant Hari, they attempted to set on fire the Women’s Health Practice in Champaign, Illinois, on November 7, 2017. Morris admitted to breaking a window and placing an incendiary device in the Women’s Health Practice and to lighting a strip of magnesium that was being used as a fuse. However, the device did not ignite and was found on the floor by an employee of the Women’s Health Practice when the employee arrived to work that morning.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys John Docherty and Julie E. Allyn of the District of Minnesota, with assistance from Trial Attorney Timothy Visser of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The team also worked closely with Assistant United States Attorney Eugene Miller of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois.

Defendant Information:

MICHAEL MCWHORTER, 29

Clarence, Ill.

Convicted:

Intentionally Obstructing, and Attempting to Obstruct, by Force and the Threat of Force, the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs, 1 count

Carrying and Using a Destructive Device During and in Relation to Crimes of Violence, 1 count

Possession of a Machine Gun, 1 count

Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence, 1 count

Attempted Arson, 1 count

 

JOE MORRIS, 23

Clarence, Ill.

 

Convicted:

Intentionally Obstructing, and Attempting to Obstruct, by Force and the Threat of Force, the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs, 1 count

Carrying and Using a Destructive Device During and in Relation to Crimes of Violence, 1 count

Possession of a Machine Gun, 1 count

Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence, 1 count

Attempted Arson, 1 count

 

MICHAEL HARI, 47

Clarence, Ill.

 

Charges in the District of Minnesota:

Intentionally Defacing, Damaging, and Destroying any Religious Real Property Because of the Religious Character of that Property, 1 count

Intentionally Obstructing, and Attempting to Obstruct, by Force and the Threat of Force, the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs, 1 count

Conspiracy to Commit Federal Felonies by Means of Fire and Explosives, 1 count

Carrying and Using a Destructive Device During and in Relation to Crimes of Violence, 1 count

Possession of an unregistered destructive device, 1 count

 

Charges in the Central District of Illinois[2]:

Possession of a Machine Gun, 1 count

Conspiracy to Interfere with Commerce by Threats and Violence, 1 count

Attempted Arson, 1 count

Possession of a firearm by a felon, 1 count

 

 

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

 

 

 



[1] The charges against defendant Michael Hari are accusations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.





[2] Superseding Indictment Adds New Charges Against Four East Central Illinois Men

United States Attorney Erica H. MacDonald and Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore today announced a five-count federal indictment charging MICHAEL HARI, 47, MICHAEL MCWHORTER, 29, and JOE MORRIS, 23, with federal civil rights and hate crime violations, and using a destructive device in connection with an explosion at the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center (“DAF”) in Bloomington, Minnesota, on August 5, 2017.1 MCWHORTER, MORRIS, and HARI were previously named in a criminal complaint filed on March 13, 2018, in the District of Minnesota, charging them with arson.

 

The three defendants are currently being held in custody in Urbana, Illinois, on separate charges.2

“These three defendants allegedly plotted and executed a plan designed specifically to spread fear and threaten a fundamental right afforded to all, the freedom of religion,” said U.S. Attorney Erica H. MacDonald. “In spite of this destructive and violent act alleged in the indictment, our communities have found strength in taking a unified stand against the attack. My office and our law enforcement partners are committed to upholding the laws that protect the civil rights of all Americans.”

“Last year's bombing was more than just an attack against a single structure, it was an attack on the very religious freedoms we enjoy as Americans,” said Jill Sanborn, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Minneapolis Division. “The ability to worship how and where we want is a cornerstone of our country's foundation, and the FBI stands ready to work with the community and our law enforcement partners whenever those freedoms are attacked.”

“All people – regardless of where they worship – have the right under federal law to live free from the threat of violence and discrimination,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore. “This Justice Department will hold accountable under the law anyone who attempts to commit violent acts of hate by threat or action.

The indictment returned by a federal grand jury alleges that HARI, MCWHORTER, and MORRIS engaged in a conspiracy to use an explosive device to intentionally cause damage to the DAF Islamic Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, which serves as a religious center as well as a religious school for children. The defendants targeted this location because of the religious character of the DAF Islamic Center, and for the purpose of making Muslims feel frightened and intimidated by interfering with their free exercise of religious liberty. As part of the conspiracy, HARI constructed a pipe bomb and, on July 27, 2017, rented a pickup truck from a vehicle rental business in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. On August 4 and 5, 2017, HARI, MCWHORTER, and MORRIS drove together in the rented pickup truck from Illinois to Bloomington, Minnesota, stopping along the way to purchase diesel fuel and gasoline, which the defendants mixed together in a plastic container.

As alleged in the indictment and a previously filed criminal complaint, in the early morning of August 5, 2017, MORRIS used a sledge hammer to break a window at the DAF Islamic Center and threw the plastic container containing the diesel fuel and gasoline mixture into the building. It is alleged that MCWHORTER then lit the fuse on the pipe bomb that HARI had built and threw the pipe bomb through the broken window at the DAF Islamic Center. According to the court documents, the window that was broken was part of the Imam’s office. When the pipe bomb exploded, it ignited the mixture in the plastic container, causing extensive fire and smoke damage to the Imam’s office. MCWHORTER and MORRIS returned to the pickup truck, where HARI was waiting, and sped off, driving back to Illinois.

As alleged in the previously filed criminal complaint, MCWHORTER said in reference to the DAF Islamic Center explosion, that the defendants did not intend to kill anyone, but they wanted to “scare [Muslims] out of the country” and to “show them hey, you’re not welcome here, get the [expletive] out.” 

As alleged in the previously filed criminal complaint, on January 27, 2018, investigators received a tip from a confidential source with information about the three defendants and their involvement with the bombing at the DAF Islamic Center.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie E. Allyn and John F. Docherty of the District of Minnesota, with assistance from Trial Attorney Timothy Visser of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. The team is working in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of Illinois.

 

Defendant Information:

MICHAEL HARI, 47

Clarence, Ill.

Charges:

Intentionally Defacing, Damaging, and Destroying any Religious Real Property Because of the Religious Character of that Property, 1 count

Intentionally Obstructing, and Attempting to Obstruct, by Force and the Threat of Force, the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs, 1 count

Conspiracy to Commit Federal Felonies by Means of Fire and Explosives, 1 count

Carrying and Using a Destructive Device During and in Relation to Crimes of Violence, 1 count

Possession of an unregistered destructive device, 1 count

 

MICHAEL MCWHORTER, 29

Clarence, Ill.

 

Charges:

Intentionally Defacing, Damaging, and Destroying any Religious Real Property Because of the Religious Character of that Property, 1 count

Intentionally Obstructing, and Attempting to Obstruct, by Force and the Threat of Force, the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs, 1 count

Conspiracy to Commit Federal Felonies by Means of Fire and Explosives, 1 count

Carrying and Using a Destructive Device During and in Relation to Crimes of Violence, 1 count

 

JOE MORRIS, 23

Clarence, Ill.

 

Charges:

Intentionally Defacing, Damaging, and Destroying any Religious Real Property Because of the Religious Character of that Property, 1 count

Intentionally Obstructing, and Attempting to Obstruct, by Force and the Threat of Force, the Free Exercise of Religious Beliefs, 1 count

Conspiracy to Commit Federal Felonies by Means of Fire and Explosives, 1 count

Carrying and Using a Destructive Device During and in Relation to Crimes of Violence, 1 count

 

 

 

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

 



[1] The charges contained in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.





[2] Superseding Indictment Adds New Charges Against Four East Central Illinois Men

United States Attorney Gregory G. Brooker today announced a federal criminal complaint charging MICHAEL MCWHORTER, 29, JOE MORRIS, 22, and MICHAEL B. HARI, 47, for using an explosive device to maliciously destroy and damage the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center (“DAF”) in Bloomington, Minnesota. MCWHORTER, MORRIS, and HARI are currently in custody in Urbana, Illinois. MORRIS and HARI made their initial appearance on federal charges related to an attempted bombing in Champaign, Illinois, today at 3:00 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Eric I. Long in U.S. District Court in Urbana, Illinois. MCWHORTER will make his initial appearance in connection with the attempted Illinois bombing at a later date.

The affidavit filed in support of the District of Minnesota criminal complaint alleges that on August 5, 2017, a pipe bomb was thrown through a window of the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center (“DAF”), located in Bloomington, Minnesota. The pipe bomb, constructed of polyvinyl chloride, known as “PVC,” exploded, causing extensive damage. On January 27, 2018, law enforcement received information from a confidential source indicating that MCWHORTER, MORRIS, and HARI were responsible for the bombing carried out at DAF.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie E. Allyn and John F. Docherty.

 

Defendant Information:

MICHAEL B. HARI, 47

Clarence, Ill.

Charges:

Arson, 1 count

 

JOE MORRIS, 22

Clarence, Ill.

 

Charges:

Arson, 1 count

 

MICHAEL MCWHORTER, 29

Clarence, Ill.

 

Charges:

Arson, 1 count

 

 

 

 

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United States Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota: (612) 664-5600

 



The charges contained in the criminal complaint are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.