An Egg Harbor Township man accused of using the internet to threaten a minor female, solicit nudes from underage girls and express support for mass shooters was arrested at his home Friday morning on federal charges of cyberstalking.
Marek Cherkaoui, 21, has a history of making online comments involving threats and advocating for and supporting violence, acting U.S. Attorney and Special Attorney Alina Habba announced.
He also was a supporter of the Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) network known as 764, according to the criminal complaint. He also heralded mass shooters.
Cherkaoui was charged with cyberstalking a minor, for allegedly threatening the girl to the point she cut herself on two occasions, and sending pictures to prove what she had done.
"Not deep enough press harder next time," he wrote to "Victim 1," the complaint states. "I know you're young but the other girls still do better than you."
In a separate post, Cherkaoui told another user, "You can go after (Victim 1) again if you want. Maker her cut deeper."
Cherkaoui was ordered held in federal custody at an initial appearance in the District Court in Camden.
Victim 1 was not his only target, according to the complaint.
"You need to slit your wrists. Then you need to take a picture and send it to me. Do it or I'll make your life miserable," he wrote to one person identified in the federal complaint only as Individual 5. "Nothing is stopping me from ambushing you, slicing up your greasy meatsuit, and laying your head on the floor."
Cherkaoui made multiple posts about pedophilia, noting that the age of consent in New Jersey is 16, and that the age varies based on the state and country.
"A word without a real definition is meaningless," he wrote. "It's not illegal to be a pedophile. I just want a 13 yo (year old) trad wife."
In December he pushed one underage girl for nudes, threatening to dox her, the practice of putting out people's person information online, including where they live.
"You're being rude right now and someone might docks (dox) you if you don't want (to) give what he wants. Not asking for much ..." the complaint quotes Cherkaoui as writing. "You'll be left alone if you do this. Fair enough? My telegram channel is open."
Members of the FBI stand down the street from the house in Egg Harbor Township.
Egg Harbor Township neighbors told BreakingAC that they saw a young man in handcuffs outside the home on Blackman Road.
Later, FBI agents were seen going in and out of the one-story house owned by Cherkaoui's parents.
An FBI spokeswoman in Newark confirmed to BreakingAC that the agency "was present in Egg Harbor Township conducting court authorized law enforcement activity."
Cherkaoui's arrest was announced by the acting U.S. attorney in a news release hours later, indicating this was not the first time the home has been searched.
Books regarding the manufacture of explosives, body armor, zip ties, a trench coat, ski masks, and tactical gear allegedly purchased online were seized from the home in a June search by law enforcement agents.
The search Thursday recovered writings in which Cherkaoui discussed and planned murder and terroristic acts, including a multi-step plan involving joining ISIS and returning to the United States to commit acts of terrorism.
The count of cyberstalking a minor victim carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to three years of supervised release. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Habba credited special agents and Joint Terrorism Task Force Officers of Federal Bureau Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and the New Jersey State Police with the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey and the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are handling the prosecution.
The homeowners could not be reached for comment.
