Second Arrest Made in Babylon Teen's Attempt to Join Al-Qaida

A second Long Island man has been arrested in connection with a plot to join the terrorist organization Al-Qaida in 2012, according to the United States Department of Justice.

Marcos Alonso Zea, also known as "Ali Zea," 25, of Brentwood, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, attempting to provide material support to terrorists and attempting to provide material support to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

Zea was arrested in his Brentwood home Friday morning and will be arraigned at the United States Federal Courthouse in Central Islip in the afternoon.

According to the Justice Department, Zea attempted to fly to Yemen in January 2012, but was intercepted by customs agents in the United Kingdom and sent back home. He continued to participate in terrorism, according to the feds, and specifically aided Babylon Village teenager Justin Kaliebe, who was charged earlier this year with attempting to join the terrorist organization.

Papers filled in the courts charge that Zea helped Kaliebe attempt to join, bragging about his lies to custom agents and advising him on how to evade electronic surveillance. Zea also allegedly funded Kaliebe's failed trip to Yemen to join the terrorist organization there.

"I just hope my story, the event that happened to me, will help you guys move forward, inspire you," Zea allegedly told Kailebe during their final meeting.

Zea allegedly tried to delete his hard drives after realizing he was under investigation in April, but failed after investigators were able to recover files allegedly containing an assortment of violent Islamic extremist materials.

"Despite being born and raised in the United States, Zea allegedly betrayed his country and attempted to travel to Yemen in order to join a terrorist organization and commit murder,” said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch in a statement. “When that plan was thwarted, Zea continued to support terrorism by assisting his co-conspirator’s efforts to travel to Yemen to fight violent jihad."

U.S. Rep. Peter King commended the FBI, NYPD and Suffolk County Police for Zea's arrest.

"[He] is the latest in a series of jihadist supporters from Long Island, including his co-conspirator Justin Kaliebe of Babylon. This arrest is a vivid reminder of the threat we continue to face from domestic Islamic terrorists," King said in a statement.

The case against Zea will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Seth D. DuCharme, John J. Durham, and Michael P. Canty, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Kelli Andrews of the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice.