A 22-year-old Army soldier from Ohio has pleaded guilty to attempting to help ISIS ambush and murder US soldiers in the Middle East, the Justice Department announced Wednesday.
Cole Bridges pled guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and attempting to murder US military service members, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Bridges is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2.
Bridges joined the US Army in approximately September 2019 and was assigned as a cavalry scout in the Third Infantry Division based in Fort Stewart, Georgia.
Beginning in at least 2019, Bridges began researching and consuming online propaganda promoting extremists and their violent ideology. He also expressed his support for“ISIS” and “jihad” on social media, according to the court’s documents.
“In or about October 2020, Bridges began communicating with a Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) online covert employee (the “OCE”), who was posing as an ISIS supporter in contact with ISIS fighters in the Middle East. During these communications, Bridges expressed his frustration with the US military and his desire to aid ISIS.”
“Bridges then provided training and guidance to purported ISIS fighters who were planning attacks, including advice about potential targets in New York City. Bridges also provided the OCE with portions of a US Army training manual and guidance about military combat tactics, for use by ISIS.”
“In or about December 2020, Bridges began to supply the OCE with instructions for the purported ISIS fighters on how to attack US forces in the Middle East. Among other things, Bridges diagrammed specific military maneuvers intended to help ISIS fighters maximize the lethality of attacks on US troops.”
“Bridges further provided advice about the best way to fortify an ISIS encampment to repel an attack by US Special Forces, including by wiring certain buildings with explosives to kill the US troops.”
“Then, in January 2021, Bridges provided the OCE with a video of himself in his US Army body armor standing in front of a flag often used by ISIS fighters and making a gesture symbolic of support for ISIS. Approximately a week later, Bridges sent a second video in which Bridges, using a voice manipulator, narrated a propaganda speech in support of the anticipated ambush by ISIS on US troops.”
