2 former Southern California residents guilty in terrorism plot

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Two men arrested in Chino in 2012 were convicted Thursday of plotting to provide material support to terrorists and to kill American personnel, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

Sohiel Omar Kabir, 36, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Afghanistan, and Ralph Deleon, 25, a Philippines citizen living in the U.S. on a green card, were found guilty of conspiracy in two plots by a federal jury after a six-and-a-half-week trial.

The two men each face life in prison without parole at their February 23 sentencing.

In addition to conspiracy, Kabir, who lived in Pomona until late 2011, was found guilty of conspiring to provide support and resources to terrorist organization Al Qaeda, and conspiring to receive military-type training from the organization.

Deleon, who lived in Ontario, was also found guilty of conspiring to commit murder, kidnapping or maiming overseas.

Two other men were indicted in the 2012 case. Miguel Alejandro Santana Vidriales and Arifeen David Gojali previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

An FBI source met Deleon and Santana in February 2012, and Deleon revealed his plan to travel to Afghanistan for jihad in the spring of 2012. Deleon told the source he wanted to use explosives and Santana said he wanted to be a sniper.

Kabir left the U.S. at the end of 2011 and arrived in Afghanistan in July 2012, where he communicated to Santana and Deleon, encouraging them to join him there. He told the men he had made contacts with terrorist organizations, and the three of them could join.

Deleon and Santana recruited Gojali to travel with them to commit violent jihad, and they made plans to join Kabir in Afghanistan for training. The three men began training at firearms and paintball facilities in Southern California in preparation.

Deleon, Santana and Gojali were arrested on November 16, 2012 by the FBI as they after leaving an apartment in Chino. Kabir was arrested by U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan.

Deleon, Santana and Gojali were preparing to drive to Mexico, where they would then fly to Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office,

The terrorism investigation was conducted by the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Riverside, composed of members of the Riverside police and sheriff's departments, San Bernardino Sheriff's Department, Beaumont Police, Ontario Police, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security, the U.A. Attorney's Office and the FBI.