Alleged Election Day terror plot co-conspirator pleads guilty in federal court

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — An 18-year-old Afghan national accused of attempting to purchase guns in Oklahoma as part of an Election Day terrorist plot in October 2024 pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday.

Abdullah Haji Zada, 18, was arrested by FBI agents in October along with Nasir Tawhedi for allegedly attempting to purchase two AK-47s, ten magazines and 500 rounds of ammunition in an unspecified rural location in Oklahoma, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Tawhedi is currently awaiting trial on charges of conspiring and attempting to provide material support to ISIS and attempting to receive, or conspiring to receive a firearm to be used to commit a felony or a federal crime of terrorism.

Zada, who was 17 years old at the time of his arrest, was previously a student at Southmoore High School. He is also a native and citizen of Afghanistan, and a U.S. lawful permanent resident.

The DOJ says Zada would be removed from the U.S. and sent to Afghanistan following his prison sentence as part of a plea agreement, and lose his lawful permanent resident status as a result.

Zada faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine at sentencing.