A 21-year-old Pennsylvania man accused of preparing a violent attack in support of ISIS has been arrested after FBI agents tracked him to a hotel in Cranberry Township. Investigators seized a semiautomatic rifle, five magazines and 190 rounds of ammunition, according to federal prosecutors. Authorities say Jonathan Hunter Kramer had pledged allegiance to ISIS, offered to distribute explosives manuals online and said he was preparing for a mission. No specific target for the alleged attack was identified.
Kramer faces a federal charge involving the receipt of a firearm and ammunition with knowledge or reasonable cause to believe they would be used in a felony or federal terrorism offense. Prosecutors are seeking his detention without bond, arguing that he presents a danger to the community.
| 1) | Investigation resumed after anonymous tip |
| 2) | Online activity allegedly linked man to ISIS |
| 3) | FBI tracked suspect from home to hotel |
| 4) | Weapons and ammunition recovered during searches |
| 5) | Prosecutors seek detention without bond |
Investigation resumed after anonymous tip
The FBI renewed its investigation into Kramer after receiving an anonymous tip on March 19, shortly after his release from a juvenile detention facility. The tipster reportedly told authorities that Kramer was ordering unusual packages and reconnecting with people he had known before an earlier juvenile case.
Authorities had previously investigated Kramer in 2023, when he was a minor. The Justice Department said he was charged and adjudicated delinquent in Pennsylvania in connection with an alleged mass-casualty attack plot and possession of child sexual abuse material. The renewed inquiry focused on whether his conduct after release indicated a new threat.
Online activity allegedly linked man to ISIS
Investigators said Kramer used the online name “Hamza Al Rashid” and claimed an affiliation with ISIS. According to the federal criminal complaint, he offered to distribute explosives manuals online and wrote about preparing for a mission.
The complaint also alleges that Kramer said he still needed a weapon. Federal prosecutors charged him under a statute concerning the receipt of a firearm and ammunition when the recipient knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, the items will be used in a felony or federal terrorism offense, including material support for a designated foreign terrorist organization.
FBI tracked suspect from home to hotel
On Friday, FBI agents watched Kramer leave his home with a bag and use a rideshare to travel to a store, according to the complaint. He allegedly purchased a disposable phone before meeting another person in a parking lot.
Investigators said Kramer then took a long black bag from the trunk of a vehicle and traveled to a hotel in Cranberry Township, where he paid cash for a room. Witnesses at the store and hotel reportedly heard a metallic clicking sound when the bag was set down. Agents later saw Kramer at a sporting goods store’s gun counter and approached him after he returned to the hotel with two bags.
Weapons and ammunition recovered during searches
Searches of Kramer, his hotel room and his home uncovered a semiautomatic rifle, five rifle magazines and 190 rounds of rifle ammunition, prosecutors said. Two magazines were loaded, while three others could each hold 30 rounds.
Agents also found a rifle scope, a bipod, an entrenchment tool, pepper spray and about 30 knives. A handwritten note recovered during the investigation said, “DoNt look For me[.] IDK what I did buT I cant live In constant Fear[.]” The Justice Department did not identify a particular intended target.
Prosecutors seek detention without bond
Jonathan Hunter Kramer was booked into the Butler County Jail and made his first court appearance Monday. Prosecutors asked that he remain jailed without bond, asserting that his alleged conduct and access to weapons made him a danger to the community.
Attorney General Todd Blanche said the investigation prevented the alleged attack before anyone was injured. FBI Director Kash Patel likewise described Kramer as having been involved in planning a violent attack in support of ISIS, citing his online activity and weapons acquisition. The arrest was announced as Americans marked the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
“Their outstanding work thwarted this alleged attack before innocent lives could be lost,” Todd Blanche said.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | FBI agents arrested a 21-year-old Pennsylvania man at a Cranberry Township hotel. |
| 2 | Investigators seized a semiautomatic rifle, five magazines and 190 rounds of ammunition. |
| 3 | Prosecutors allege that the suspect pledged allegiance to ISIS and discussed a mission. |
| 4 | The government is seeking detention without bond because of the alleged danger to the public. |
Summary
Federal authorities say the investigation into Jonathan Hunter Kramer developed from an anonymous tip and online activity allegedly associated with ISIS. His arrest followed surveillance and searches that uncovered a rifle, ammunition and other items. The case will proceed in federal court, where the allegations and detention request will be addressed through the judicial process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested?
Federal authorities arrested Jonathan Hunter Kramer, a 21-year-old man from Valencia, Pennsylvania.
What did investigators seize?
Investigators reported finding a semiautomatic rifle, five rifle magazines, 190 rounds of ammunition, a scope, a bipod, knives and other items.
What happens next?
Kramer has appeared in court, and prosecutors are seeking to keep him detained without bond while the federal case proceeds.
