JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A federal judge in Jacksonville late Tuesday approved the transfer of 30-year-old Abror Habibov to New York City, where he and two other foreign nationals arrested last week will face prosecution for supporting the Islamic state group.
Habibov was not returned to the Baker County jail and was flown immediately to New York.
Habibov, who runs a mobile photo repair kiosk at Orange Park Mall, was arrested last Wednesday in Jacksonville.
According to reports, Habibov is a Uzbekistan citizen who legally entered the United States, but had overstayed his visa.
Habibov entered the courtroom for an identity hearing in shackles on his hands and feet and closely watched by U.S. Marshals.
Prosecutors had to prove that he was the same man who was charged with attempt and conspiracy to provide material support to a terrorist organization in a criminal complaint filed in the Eastern District of New York.
Habibov freely admitted that he is the person in the complaint but did not make any admissions of guilt.
Habibov had the right to have another preliminary hearing in Jacksonville, but waived that, telling Judge Patricia Barksdale through his interpreter, "I want it to be in New York."
According to federal investigators, Habibov helped fund the efforts of Akhror Saidakhmetov, 19, and Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev, 24, to fly to Turkey with intentions of crossing into Syria to join ISIS fighters. Saidakhmetov was arrested at Kennedy Airport about to board a flight to Istanbul. Juraboev had a ticket to travel to Istanbul next month and was arrested in Brooklyn, federal prosecutors said.
Prosecutors asked that Habibov be held in custody before any potential trial because he has a risk of flight and could be considered dangerous. Habibov's court-appointed defender waived the detention hearing in Florida but reserved the right for a hearing in New York at a later date.
The defendant had questions about how long it would take for him to get to New York. The judge could not answer them, saying it is up to the U.S. Marshals.
U.S. Marshals Service Supervisory Deputy Penelope Knox said that information on his transfer will be confidential as this is a high-security case.
If convicted, Habibov could face up to 15 years in federal prison, plus a $250,000 fine. He also faces a lifetime of supervision upon release.