Man who supplied guns to San Bernardino terrorists sentenced to 20 years

The man who supplied assault rifles to the terrorists who killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Calif., in 2015 was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced. 

Enrique Marqez Jr., 28, pleaded guilty in 2017 to conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists, and one count of making false statements in connection with the acquisition of firearms. 

“This defendant was an active member of a conspiracy that planned to inflict death and destruction on innocent people,” First Assistant United States Attorney Tracy Wilkison said in a statement. “By his own admissions, this defendant collaborated with and purchased weapons for a man he definitively knew held radical and anti-American beliefs — and who wanted to kill innocent people.”

In 2011 and 2012, Marquez purchased two rifles that Syed Farrok and his wife Tashfeen Malik used in their attack on the Inland Regional Center (IRC), according to the plea agreement. Farook paid Marquez for the rifles, and the two discussed using radio-controlled bombs during planned attacks on Riverside City College and State Route 91. 

Marquez also admitted to purchasing Christmas tree light bulbs and a container of smokeless powder for use in bomb manufacturing. He was arrested two weeks after the Dec. 2, 2015, IRC attack, prosecutors said, and has remained in custody since his first court appearance. 

In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said Marquez “was a full, willing, and motivated participant of the conspiracy” for providing the weapons and co-designing the attack. 

Marquez had requested a five-year sentence, a request denied by Judge Jesus Bernal. Once he completes his 20-year sentence, he will be on supervised release for 15 years. 

On Dec. 2, 2015, Farook and Malik perpetrated what is regarded as the worst terrorist attack on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001. They were killed in a shootout with police later that same day.