Second American woman charged in 'Jihad Jane' case
Jamie Paulin-Ramirez is seen in an undated photo. Credit: Photo courtesy of Christine Mott
WASHINGTON -- Federal prosecutors filed terrorism charges Friday against a second American woman in the so-called Jihad Jane case, accusing the pair of plotting online to attend a terror training camp.
Jamie Paulin-Ramirez flew from Ireland on Friday to Philadelphia, where she was arrested by agents with the joint terrorism task force there. Her 6-year-old son flew with her and was placed in the custody of child protective service workers.
Last month, authorities in Ireland detained Paulin-Ramirez, originally from Colorado, and six others as they investigated an alleged plot to kill a Swedish cartoonist whose drawing had offended many Muslims.
Those seven suspects in Ireland were linked to Colleen LaRose, a 46-year-old woman who had traveled to Europe but was arrested last fall when she returned to the United States.
The new indictment charges that LaRose and Paulin-Ramirez, 31, separately traveled to Europe to support violent jihad, or Muslim holy war. The court papers also say that once LaRose was in Europe, she invited Paulin-Ramirez to join her to attend a "training camp." Paulin-Ramirez, prosecutors charge, accepted the invitation and asked to bring her 6-year-old son with her. She and the boy traveled to Europe last September and on the day of her arrival, she married a co-conspirator whom she'd knew only from online discussions, authorities said.
Last August, the two allegedly had a computer conversation in which LaRose said "when our brothers defend our faith [and] their homes, they are terrorists . . . fine, then I am a terrorist and proud to be this." According to the indictment, Paulin-Ramirez replied, "that's right . . . if that's how they call it then so be it I am what I am."
Prosecutors alleged that LaRose called herself "Jihad Jane" in Internet conversations, but she denied that when questioned by the FBI. She has pleaded not guilty in the case.
"She's in some serious, serious trouble," Paulin-Ramirez's mother, Christine Mott, said tearfully in a phone call from her home in Leadville, Colo.
Mott said she was especially concerned about her grandson.
"This has been twice that that little boy has been with his mother when she was arrested, in two different countries," Mott said. "I need somebody to help me bring that little boy back here to some sanity."
Mott said she was also worried about her daughter.
"My daughter's not a monster," Mott said. "These people came into my home through the Internet and they seduced a very lonely, lonely person."
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
Out East with Doug Geed: Wine harvests, a fish market, baked treats and poinsettias NewsdayTV's Doug Geed visits two wineries and a fish market, and then it's time for holiday cheer, with a visit to a bakery and poinsettia greenhouses.
