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Terrorism Charges Leveled Against Ciccolo

Staff ReportsiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — Alexander Ciccolo, held by federal authorities since his arrest last July 4, was indicted Thursday in connection with a plot to engage in terrorist activity inspired by and in the name of ISIL.

Ciccolo, a resident of Adams at the time of his arrest, was indicted on one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and one count of attempting to use of weapons of mass destruction.  

These charges from a superseding indictment were added to a pending indictment charging Ciccolo with one count of being a convicted person in possession of firearms and one count of assaulting a nurse during a jail intake process by use of a deadly weapon causing bodily injury.  

Ciccolo, also claiming the name Ali Al Amriki, 23, is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Springfield on July 7 at 3 p.m.

Ciccolo's attorney, David Hoose of Northampton, had no comment on the new charges.

According to evidence presented at a previous detention hearing, on July 4, 2015, Ciccolo received four firearms that he had ordered from a person who was cooperating with members of the Western Massachusetts Joint Terrorism Task Force, and who had been communicating with Ciccolo about his plans to engage in a terrorist act. Ciccolo was arrested immediately after receiving the firearms, which included a Colt AR-15 .223 caliber rifle, a SigArms Model SG550-1 556 rifle, a Glock 17-9 mm pistol, and a Glock 20-10 mm pistol.

Ciccolo had previously been convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in jail and therefore was prohibited from possessing firearms.

It is alleged that Ciccolo is a supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.  

Ciccolo had spoken with a cooperating witness in recorded conversations about his plans to commit acts of terrorism inspired by ISIL, including setting off improvised explosive devices, such as pressure cookers filled with black powder, nails, ball bearings and glass, in places where large numbers of people congregate, like college cafeterias. Prior to his arrest, agents said they had observed Ciccolo purchase a pressure cooker similar to that used in the Boston Marathon bombings two years before.


 
It is also alleged that during a search of Ciccolo's apartment after he was arrested, agents found several partially constructed "Molotov cocktails." These incendiary devices contained what appeared to be shredded Styrofoam soaking in motor oil. It is alleged that Ciccolo had previously stated that this mixture would cause the fire from the exploded devices to stick to people's skin and make it harder to put the fire out.
 
Shortly after his arrest, while he was being processed at the Franklin County Correctional Center, Ciccolo allegedly stabbed a nurse with a pen, leaving a bloody gash on the top of the nurse's head.
 
Ciccolo has been detained since his arrest in July 2015. His attorneys were last in court in early June, when U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson pressed federal prosecutors to bring any further charges forward.
 
The charge of attempted provision of material support to a foreign terrorist organization provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  The charge of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction provides a sentence of life in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.  The charge of being a prohibited person in possession of firearms provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  

The charge of assault with a dangerous weapon causing bodily injury provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
 
United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston Field Division, made the announcement Thursday.
 

Ciccolo Superseding Indictment


Tags: #berkshireterror,   ciccolo,   terrorism,   US Court,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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