ALEXANDRIA: A former transit-agency police officer convicted in a sting operation of attempting to help the militant group Daesh could face decades in prison at his sentencing hearing.
Thirty-eight-year-old Nicholas Young was a patrol officer in the D.C. region’s Metrorail system. He was known as “Officer Friendly” at the Takoma Park station where he was assigned.
A federal jury convicted Young in December on multiple counts, including attempted material support of a terrorist group.
Young purchased more than $200 in gift cards he believed would be used to purchase mobile-phone apps that Daesh could use to communicate securely. In reality, though, Young’s Daesh connection was an FBI informant.
Young argued unsuccessfully at trial that he was entrapped. He faces up to 60 years at his sentencing hearing Friday.
FBI ‘Daesh informant’ officer convicted at terrorism trial faces decades in prison
FBI ‘Daesh informant’ officer convicted at terrorism trial faces decades in prison
Zelensky wants to replace Ukraine’s defense minister
- President has offered the position to his current minister of digital transformation, who is aged just 34
- No explanation was given for his decision to replace Denys Shmygal
KYIV, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said he intended to replace his defense minister and had offered the position to his current minister of digital transformation, who is aged just 34.
“I have decided to change the structure of the Ukrainian ministry of defense,” Zelensky said in his daily address broadcast on social media. “I have offered Mikhailo Fedorov the position of new Ukrainian defense minister.”
Fedorov, who has been digital transformation minister since 2019, is a relative political novice little-known to the Ukrainian public.
“Mykhailo is deeply involved in issues related to drones and is very effective in the digitalization of state services and processes,” Zelensky added.
Without explaining his decision to replace Denys Shmygal, the Ukrainian leader said he had proposed the incumbent “head another area of government work that is no less important for our stability.”
Zelensky had tapped Shmygal as defense minister just half a year ago, in July 2025.
Besides the turnover at the defense ministry, Zelensky also named Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov to head his presidential office.
Budanov replaces Andriy Yermak, who was among Ukraine’s most powerful people before being engulfed in a corruption scandal dogging some of Zelensky’s former allies.
