KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that Safya Roe Yassin, 38, of Buffalo, Missouri, was charged today with communicating threats of violence over the Internet.
Yassin, a U.S. citizen, was charged in a federal criminal complaint that was filed under seal in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Missouri, on Feb. 17, 2016. She remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2016 at 3:00 p.m.
An affidavit filed in support of the complaint alleges that Yassin maintained several social media accounts, including numerous Twitter accounts and a Facebook account, and used a Twitter account to post a threat against two FBI agents. On Aug. 24, 2015, Yassin allegedly posted the names, residences (city, state and ZIP code) and phone numbers of the two FBI agents under the words, “Wanted to kill."
According to the affidavit, the threat originated with a Twitter account associated with ISIL. During the investigation, federal investigators identified multiple Twitter accounts allegedly used by Yassin, many of which were suspended by Twitter.
The charges contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This case is being investigated by the FBI, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian P. Casey and Abram McGull II of the Western District of Missouri.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
