Feb. 07--A west suburban mother was accused Friday of sending money and supplies to terrorist fighters overseas, including to Islamic State and al-Qaida in Iraq.
Bosnia native Mediha Medy Salkicevic, 34, of Schiller Park, had an initial appearance in federal court Saturday morning during which Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole presented Salkicevic with her charges: conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists and providing material support to terrorists.
The purpose of Saturday's hearing was information, so Salkicevic could understand her rights under the indictment and agree to a bond hearing next week.
"You're not here to plead guilty or not guilty," Cole told her. "This is just an informational session to explain your charges and maximum penalties."
If found guilty, Salkicevic, an employed mother of four children, would face up to 30 years in prison, Cole said.
Salkicevic's next court appearance is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday. It will be a removal proceeding, in which the judge decides if Salkicevic, who was indicted in the Eastern District of Missouri, will be freed on bond and allowed to travel to Missouri on her own.
"If you're going to go to Missouri on your own, I need to know you're an honest person," Cole said.
The appearance lasted less than a half-hour, and upon dismissal, Salkicevic, in an orange jumpsuit and hijab, rushed over to a man who came to support her, holding his hands while they whispered to each other. Salkicevic's attorney, Andrea Gambino, would not confirm whether the man was a family member.
Gambino said Salkicevic, who told court officials she suffers from seizures, was anxious to be reunited with her children.
"I'm not going to comment on the state of my client right now," Gambino said after the hearing. "But as you can imagine, facing federal charges is a very serious thing."
The indictment alleges that the conspiracy began no later than May 2013 and that Salkicevic used email, phones and social media websites such as Facebook to communicate using coded words, such as "brothers," "lions" and "Bosnian brothers."
The supplies and money successfully reached fighters in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, according to the indictment. Money was also sent to support family members of terrorist fighters. Salkicevic knew where the money and supplies were going, according to the indictment.
She is one of six people charged as part of the conspiracy. Three of her co-defendants were charged in St. Louis, where the military equipment was allegedly purchased, a fourth was charged in Rockford and a fifth in Utica, N.Y.
