Public Safety
Mom of Terrorist Who Killed 14 Sentenced for Destroying Evidence
The 67-year-old mother of an Islamic terrorist who killed more than a dozen people in an attack following a Christmas party at the Inland Regional Center was sentenced Thursday in Riverside to six months home confinement and three years probation for destroying evidence connected to the massacre.
Rafia Sultana Shareef, also known as Rafia Farook, pleaded guilty in March to a felony charge of destruction and mutilation of records central to a federal criminal investigation.
U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal imposed a lighter sentence than was possible under the plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which called for up to 18 months in federal prison.
Shareef apologized for her actions prior to the sentencing at the federal courthouse in downtown Riverside.
Her youngest son, 28-year-old Sayeed Rizwan Farook, along with her daughter-in-law, 27-year-old Tashfeen Malik, perpetrated the mass killings at the IRC in San Bernardino on Dec. 2, 2015.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Shareef was staying with the couple in Redlands, caring for their toddler daughter, when the pair went to the IRC Christmas party and fatally shot 14 victims, as well as wounded 22 others, many of whom were Farook’s co-workers in the San Bernardino County Department of Environmental Health.
Farook and Malik were confirmed fundamentalists and sympathized with Islamic State.
Prosecutors said Shareef heard about the terrorist attack and realized that her son was involved, prompting her to snatch a diagram that outlined the “attack plan” and feed it into a shredder.
“Shareef admitted that she knew her son had produced the document, and she believed it was directly related to his planning of the IRC attack,” according to the plea agreement.
The defendant then fled the home with her granddaughter. Farook and his wife were killed in a gunfight with a SWAT unit within two hours of the IRC attack.
Shareef is the fourth person within the terrorists’ circle to be sentenced. Last week, her other daughter-in-law, 35-year-old Tatiana Farook, received three years federal probation for her part in arranging an immigration scam benefiting her younger sister.
In November, Shareef’s eldest son and Tatiana’s husband, 34-year-old Syed Raheel Farook, also received a 36-month sentence of probation for conspiring with his wife.
In October, Sayeed Farook’s confidant, 28-year-old Enrique Marquez Jr. of Riverside, received a 20-year federal prison term for helping acquire the semiautomatic rifles that the terrorists used to perpetrate the massacre.
The only defendant yet to be sentenced is Tatiana Farook’s sister, 30- year-old Mariya Chernykh of Ontario. Her sentencing hearing is slated for March 29.
Chernykh, who is free on bond, pleaded guilty in 2017 to charges of conspiracy, perjury and making false statements to federal officials.
According to federal authorities, Syed and Tatiana Farook engaged in the marriage fraud conspiracy by standing as witnesses at Marquez and Chernykh’s wedding, taking staged family photos of the couple and creating a joint checking account for them, as well as a back-dated lease that implied they shared a marital residence.
Marquez and Chernykh signed immigration documents, under penalty of perjury, falsely stating that they both lived at the same address. Investigators said Marquez received money from Chernykh as part of the arrangement, while she was living with another man.
By: NBC Palm Springs
February 11, 2021
Latest Instagram Posts
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1) Damian Durinzi’s Catch in Traffic, 2) Jaylen Turner Finding the End Zone with Pressure, 3) Aiden Pope’s 95 Yard Punt Return, 4) Colton LaCrone’s 40 Yard Rushing TD, or 5) Adam Tremper’s 30 Yard Rushing TD #fypage #fridaynightlights #top3 #hondaofthedesert
FIREFIGHTERS FACE A “FIRENADO” IN IDAHO Talk about a terrifying sight. While battling the Cave Fire near Kuna, Idaho, firefighters encountered a massive fire whirl — commonly called a “firenado.” The dramatic footage shows the powerful column of swirling fire as crews worked to battle the wildfire. Watch the video at NBCPalmSprings.com. #Firenado #Wildfire #Idaho #Firefighters #FireWeather #CaveFire #NBCPalmSprings
Are Coachella Valley roads designed more for cars than people? With 65 pedestrian deaths reported across the Valley’s nine cities in roughly five years, The Roggin Report takes a closer look at pedestrian safety, dark-sky rules, road design and who should be responsible for keeping people safe. Drivers? Cities? Or pedestrians themselves? Watch the full discussion on The Roggin Report at NBCPalmSprings.com/therogginreport
Erosion, rising tides and unstable bluffs are reshaping San Clemente’s iconic coastline — and officials are testing new ways to protect the beach, rail line and nearby infrastructure. The city is using a combination of sand, rock, plants, reinforcement and new walls to fight the impacts. The Orange County Transportation Authority has also built a catchment wall to help keep landslide debris off the coastal rail tracks. And there’s a Coachella Valley connection: San Clemente City Manager Andy Hall previously served as Cathedral City’s city manager. With sea levels rising and extreme tidal events putting more pressure on California’s coast, officials say the work in San Clemente could help other coastal communities prepare for what’s ahead. Read the full story at NBCPalmSprings.com. #SanClemente #CaliforniaCoast #CoastalErosion #CathedralCity #CoachellaValley NBCPalmSprings
80s pop icon Taylor Dayne is coming to the Coachella Valley, and you could be there! Taylor Dayne sits down with our entertainment contributor TOD Macofsky for a conversation about her legendary career, classic hits, Palm Springs, her upcoming Las Vegas residency and what fans can expect when she takes the stage at Spotlight 29. Taylor Dayne performs Friday, September 4 at 8 p.m. at Spotlight 29. Want to WIN tickets? Enter now at: nbcpalmsprings.com/promotions Watch the full interview with Taylor Dayne on Desert Entertainment with TOD at NBCPalmSprings.com. #TaylorDayne #Spotlight29 #CoachellaValley #PalmSprings #80sMusic ConcertGiveaway TicketGiveaway DesertEntertainment
California is considering major penalties for hospitals and medical groups that exceed state healthcare spending targets. But could those fines actually lead to cuts in critical services like emergency rooms, mental health and obstetrics? Tammy and Stephanie weigh in on the potential impact—and why controlling healthcare costs may be a double-edged sword. Watch the full discussion and hear the panel’s take at NBCPalmSprings.com/therogginreport
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Tonight the city of Coachella made history - becoming the first city in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County to enact a permanent data center ban. The unanimous decision comes after months of demands from hundreds of residents asking city council to shut down a massive data center project proposed in the east end of the city. Tonight at 11, our @newsbyalondra has the latest details.
Palm Springs City Council is taking a vote on whether or not to temporarily pause all applications and permits for a new data center in the city. Stay tuned on nbcpalmsprings.com for the results of that vote later #coachellavalley #palmsprings #datacenters #citycouncil #localnews
Tonight one vote stands between the city of Coachella and a permanent data center ban. Meanwhile, Palm Springs City Council is considering a temporary 45 day ordinance ban against data centers on their end. Make sure to tune in to our 6 and 11 p.m newscasts as our @newsbyalondra has the latest details on the final vote and reaction from the community.