Years of surveillance lead to terror charge against transit cop

[...] Young, 36, of Fairfax, Va., is the first law-enforcement officer in the U.S. to be charged with a terror-related crime, after prosecutors say he bought about $250 worth of gift cards in an FBI sting for someone he thought was working with the Islamic State.

Young was arrested Wednesday at Metro Transit Police headquarters in Washington and charged with a single count of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist group.

According to an FBI affidavit, Young bought the gift cards last month intending that they be used by the Islamic State to purchase mobile messaging apps.

Young was deeply paranoid about law enforcement spying on him, often taking the battery out of his cell phone when he wanted to go somewhere and talk, the document said.

FBI spokesman Andrew Ames confirmed that Young is the first law enforcement officer to be charged under the federal government’s terrorism law.