Suspect in RI, MA Terror Plot Pleads Guilty

BOSTON, MA — A Rhode Island man facing federal terrorism charges changed his plea to guilty Thursday for his role in a plot to kill police officers and behead an anti-Islamic blogger.

Nicholas Rovinski has been charged with conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS.

The 25-year-old Warwick man allegedly entered into the plot along with two Massachusetts men. One of those two, Usaama Rahim was shot to death during a standoff with Boston police and federal authorities.

A court complaint alleges Rovinski, Rahim and Rahim's nephew, David Wright, plotted to "wage acts of terrorism" that involved beheading blogger Pamela Geller and killing cops. The complaint states that Rovinski viewed videos about making weapons and used the alias Nuh Amriki and Nuh al Andalusi.

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Appearing in U.S. District Court in Boston Wednesday, Rovinski admitted to conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization and conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries.

Prosecutors have allegeed that Rovinski, while in jail, tried to recruit people to carry out plans for violent attacks in the United States, including the beheading of nonbelievers, NECN reports. Rovinski's lawyer says his client now renounces violence and any allegiance to the Islamic State group, according to the news station.

The U.S. Attorney’s office has previously said that the charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, up to life of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.