The DOJ claims Christian Sturdivant ‘self-radicalized,’ but records show the 18-year-old was communicating with undercover FBI agents who he believed were ISIS, raising serious questions about another federal entrapment case.

In a move that the FBI heralds as a success in thwarting terrorism, the arrest of 18-year-old Christian Sturdivant raises critical questions about the methods employed by federal agencies. Sturdivant was apprehended for allegedly plotting a New Year’s Eve attack on a grocery store using rudimentary weapons like knives and hammers. The narrative presented by the Department of Justice paints him as a self-radicalized ISIS supporter, but a deeper examination suggests a more troubling scenario.

Contrary to the official narrative of self-radicalization, court documents reveal that Sturdivant was in direct communication with undercover FBI agents masquerading as ISIS operatives. This contact began on December 12th when he was introduced to an ‘online covert employee’ (OC) working for the FBI. The interactions between Sturdivant and the agents were extensive, with him sharing his loyalty pledge and discussing attack plans, all under the supervision and encouragement of federal operatives. This engagement raises questions about the extent of the FBI’s influence over Sturdivant’s actions.

This scenario is far from being a case of independent radicalization. Instead, it highlights a dynamic where federal agents played a pivotal role in shaping the very plot they later claimed to have disrupted. The influence exerted by the FBI over Sturdivant suggests entrapment rather than the prevention of an imminent threat.

Manufacturing a ‘Terrorist’

By focusing on Sturdivant, a vulnerable young man, the FBI seems to have manipulated circumstances to create the appearance of a thwarted terror attack. Sturdivant’s plan, involving a grocery store attack with household items, resembles the fantasy of a troubled youth rather than a calculated terrorist operation. His family, aware of his instability, took precautions by hiding potential weapons from him, underlining their concern for his mental health.

Instead of opting for intervention or support for Sturdivant, the FBI chose to exploit the situation. They provided him with the necessary encouragement and validation to escalate his fantasies to the point where they could allege a terror plot. This case follows a familiar pattern in FBI entrapment tactics, where the agency identifies susceptible individuals, facilitates the creation of a threat, and then claims to have neutralized it.

The Charge vs. The Crime

Christian Sturdivant now faces significant legal repercussions, charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a charge that could lead to a 20-year sentence. This harsh penalty stems from online communications with FBI agents and a symbolic pledge, rather than any genuine capability or intent to carry out an attack. The so-called weapons were merely everyday tools, and the material support consisted of nothing more than a message sent to an FBI-controlled inbox.

The entire case rests on the idea that talking to FBI agents who are pretending to be ISIS is the same as aiding a foreign terrorist organization. The severe charge serves as a tool to legitimize the entrapment operation. It creates the illusion of a serious national security threat, when in reality, it was a manufactured crime with a manufactured villain, designed to produce headlines and justify the FBI’s counter-terrorism budget.

The Christian Sturdivant case is not a story of a terror plot foiled, but of a troubled young man targeted and groomed by the FBI.

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