Court Case

USA v. Velentzas, Noelle, et ano.

April 2015 (Updated June 16, 2021)
Queens, NY
Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP); Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL)

[EDNY] Noelle Velentzas and Asia Siddiqui are charged with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction against persons or property in the United States. The defendants plotted to construct an explosive device for use in a terrorist attack on American soil. Both have expressed support for al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Both Velentzas and Siddiqui pleaded guilty in connection with plots to build explosive devices similar to those used in prior terrorist attacks in the United States. Siddiqui was sentenced to 15 years for her role in planning to build a bomb for use in a terrorist attack in the United States.

Case Updates

2021-06-16 | Woman Sentenced to 198 Months in Prison for Teaching and Distributing Information About Weapons of Mass Destruction

Noelle Velentzas of Queens was sentenced today to 198 months, about 16 and a half years, in prison for her role in planning a terrorist attack in the United States. She was convicted of teaching or distributing information pertaining to the making and use of an explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass destruction in furtherance of a planned federal crime of violence. Between approximately 2013 and 2015 Velentzas and her co-defendant planned to build a bomb for use in a terrorist attack in the United States. In furtherance of their plan, the defendants taught each other chemistry and electrical skills directly related to creating explosives and building detonating devices; studied the explosives used in past terrorist attacks including the Boston marathon bombing, the Oklahoma City bombing and the 1993 World Trade Center attack; researched how to make plastic explosives and build car bombs; shopped for and acquired materials to be used in an explosive device; and assessed potential targets of an attack, focusing on law enforcement and military-related targets. She repeatedly expressed her support for promoting and waging violent jihad and her desire to commit acts of violence. Velentzas claimed that Osama bin Laden was her hero, and expressed praise for the September 11th attacks as well as Mohammed Shnewer, who was convicted of plotting a terrorist attack against members of the armed services at Fort Dix in New Jersey.

2020-01-09 | Queens Woman Sentenced to 15 Years' Imprisonment for Teaching and Distributing Information About Weapons of Mass Destruction

On Thursday, Jan. 9, Asia Siddiqui was sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment by United States District Judge Sterling Johnson Jr. for her role in planning to build a bomb for use in a terrorist attack in the United States. Siddiqui and her co-defendant, Noelle Velentzas, pleaded guilty on Aug. 23, 2019, to a charge of teaching or distributing information pertaining to the making and use of an explosive, destructive device, or weapon of mass destruction in furtherance of a planned federal crime of violence. Between approximately 2013 and 2015, Siddiqui and Velentzas planned to build a bomb for use in a terrorist attack in the United States. In furtherance of their plan, the defendants taught each other chemistry and electrical skills related to creating explosives and building detonating devices, conducted research on how to make plastic explosives and how to build a car bomb, and shopped for and acquired materials to be used in an explosive device. They discussed similar devices used in past terrorist incidents like the Boston Marathon bombing, Oklahoma City bombing, and 1993 World Trade Center attack and researched potential targets of an attack, focusing on law enforcement and military-related targets.

2019-08-23 | Two Queens Women Plead Guilty in Connection with Plan to Build Explosive Devices Similar to Those Used in Prior Terrorist Attacks

Asia Siddiqui and Noelle Velentzas, both citizens of the United States and residents of Queens, NY, pleaded guilty to teaching and distributing information pertaining to the making and use of an explosive device, and weapon of mass destruction, intending that it be used to commit a federal crime of violence. Between approximately 2013 and 2015, Velentzas and Siddiqui planned to build a bomb for use in a terrorist attack in the United States. Siddiqui's interest in violent terrorist-related activities was reflected in her written submissions to a radical jihadist magazine edited by Samir Khan, a now-deceased prominent figure and member of the designated foreign terrorist organization, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Velentzas similarly espoused violent rhetoric, praising the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and stating that being a martyr through a suicide attack guaranteed entrance into heaven.

Case Documents