Former US Army Soldier Sentenced To 14 Years in Prison For Attempting to Aid ISIS – Guy D. McCardle
Cole Bridges, a 24-year-old former US Army soldier from Stowe, Ohio, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to assist ISIS in a plot to ambush fellow American troops.
In this case, it sounds as if the guy got off lucky because I’m certain he would have received a much harsher punishment had it been left up to the troops he was trying to set up to be killed.
Bridges, who joined the Army in 2019, was stationed with the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he served as a cavalry scout. He began radicalizing online several months before joining the service as he consumed massive amounts of ISIS propaganda. Over time, he connected with an undercover FBI agent posing online as an ISIS supporter and provided detailed tactical advice on how to attack US soldiers in the Middle East. He even created videos where he appeared in military gear, pledging his support for ISIS.
His communications included military strategies for defending against U.S. offensives, guidance on fortifying buildings, and specific instructions on using explosives to ambush American forces. Additionally, Bridges suggested potential attacks in New York City, further showcasing his commitment to aiding ISIS.
This criminal mastermind also used the alias “Cole Gonzales,” as if no one would ever figure out it was him. Bridges / “Gonzales” was arrested in early 2021 following a lengthy FBI investigation aided by US Army Counterintelligence, US Army Criminal Investigation Command, US Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the US Army Third Infantry Division.
The undercover operation exposed his efforts to share military tactics and ambush plans with the terrorist organization. One particularly disturbing aspect of his treachery was the fact that he was explaining to who he thought was ISIS how to best fight off US Special Forces raids by placing explosives in certain areas to slow down troops.
Despite facing up to 20 years in prison for each of the charges, the judge sentenced him to 14 years after Bridges admitted his guilt and remorsefully asked for the maximum punishment of 40 years, acknowledging his betrayal of the U.S. military. After his sentence is served, he will still face another ten years of supervised release.
Cole Bridges, a 24-year-old former US Army soldier from Stowe, Ohio, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to assist ISIS in a plot to ambush fellow American troops.
In this case, it sounds as if the guy got off lucky because I’m certain he would have received a much harsher punishment had it been left up to the troops he was trying to set up to be killed.
Bridges, who joined the Army in 2019, was stationed with the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he served as a cavalry scout. He began radicalizing online several months before joining the service as he consumed massive amounts of ISIS propaganda. Over time, he connected with an undercover FBI agent posing online as an ISIS supporter and provided detailed tactical advice on how to attack US soldiers in the Middle East. He even created videos where he appeared in military gear, pledging his support for ISIS.
His communications included military strategies for defending against U.S. offensives, guidance on fortifying buildings, and specific instructions on using explosives to ambush American forces. Additionally, Bridges suggested potential attacks in New York City, further showcasing his commitment to aiding ISIS.
This criminal mastermind also used the alias “Cole Gonzales,” as if no one would ever figure out it was him. Bridges / “Gonzales” was arrested in early 2021 following a lengthy FBI investigation aided by US Army Counterintelligence, US Army Criminal Investigation Command, US Air Force Office of Special Investigations, and the US Army Third Infantry Division.
The undercover operation exposed his efforts to share military tactics and ambush plans with the terrorist organization. One particularly disturbing aspect of his treachery was the fact that he was explaining to who he thought was ISIS how to best fight off US Special Forces raids by placing explosives in certain areas to slow down troops.
Despite facing up to 20 years in prison for each of the charges, the judge sentenced him to 14 years after Bridges admitted his guilt and remorsefully asked for the maximum punishment of 40 years, acknowledging his betrayal of the U.S. military. After his sentence is served, he will still face another ten years of supervised release.
The case of Cole Bridges highlights the potential dangers of radicalization within the military and the vigilance required to address insider threats. It also underscores the critical role of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in preventing such threats from becoming catastrophic attacks. In this case, the system worked, and all agencies came together to put the bad guy behind bars.
Job well done!
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