An Iraqi-born man, who expressed animosity toward Jews and discussed targeting Jewish institutions in Nashville, has pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges.

Ahmed Hassan Al-Uqaily, 33, pleaded guilty to illegal possession of machine guns and possession of unregistered firearms.  Al-Uqaily told an acquaintance that he was “going jihad” and that he wanted to “pick a place for all the Jewish community,” according to his plea agreement, which was announced on May 31 by the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. 

The acquaintance alerted the FBI about Al-Uqaily’s statements and the Nashville Joint Terrorism Task Force began an undercover investigation.

Al-Uqaily, an Iraqi citizen who has lived in Nashville for ten years, was arrested in October 2004 after purchasing two machine guns, four disassembled hand grenades, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition from an undercover FBI agent in Nashville. 

Under the plea agreement, Al-Uqaily will be turned over to the Department of Homeland Security for deportation to Iraq after he serves between 46-57 months in prison.