Knoxville man indicted for supporting terror groups

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WDEF) – A 31 year old Knoxville man has been indicted for supporting Islamic terror groups.

Benjamin Alan Carpenter is also known as “Abu Hamza.”

A Federal Grand Jury accuses him of trying to provide resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

He appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Monday and will remain in custody as a result until his trial in June.

Prosecutors say the Knoxville resident is the leader of Ahlut-Tawhid Publications which translates and publishes ISIS and pro-ISIS media.

His ISIS contact turned out to be an FBI plant.

They say Carpenter provided their undercover officer with ISIS media he had translated into English.

He could face a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted.