Would-be terrorist says he never meant to hurt anyone

A 23-year-old Rockford man pleaded guilty Wednesday to attempting to plant grenades in a large mall last winter as part of a "violent jihad."

Derrick Shareef could face life in prison -- a possibility that brought his mother to tears in court -- though he argues he wasn't trying to kill anyone.

"It was never part of what was planned that people be hurt," Shareef told U.S. District Judge David Coar.

Federal prosecutors did not agree to a specific sentence in exchange for the Muslim convert's guilty plea. A sentencing hearing is set for March and both sides will argue how long Shareef should stay in prison.

Shareef's attorney and mother declined to comment to the media after the hearing.

Shareef, however, complained in a letter to ABC 7 Chicago's Ben Bradley of his portrayal by authorities.

"'They' have to make me look as dangerous as possible so that it justifies anything that happens to me …" he wrote. "Calling me a 'troubled youth' doesn't have the same effect as calling me a 'terrorist.' "

The Rockford man's assertion in court that he didn't plan on killing, only damaging property, came after federal prosecutors laid out their case against him.

A person who met Shareef in September of last year went to authorities when their talks turned toward bombing government facilities in the name of Allah, according to testimony in the case.

At first, Shareef was focused on a courthouse in DeKalb.

"I just want to smoke a judge," Shareef is recorded as saying to the informant.

But the informant turned Shareef's attention toward CherryVale Mall in Rockford, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Sergio Acosta.

"Oh yeah, the mall is where it is at," Shareef is recorded as saying.

Shareef cased the mall twice with the informant, looking for garbage cans to plant the grenades in and a quick escape route.

"This place is going to be tore up," Shareef is recorded as saying.

The informant set up a fake deal in which an undercover federal agent would trade Shareef four grenades and a handgun for a set of stereo speakers. Shareef was arrested in early December during the sting in a shopping center parking lot.

Acosta also alleged in court that Shareef had previously wanted to kill Jewish people in DeKalb and attack military facilities in Phoenix and San Diego. However, federal authorities have made no suggestion that Shareef was working within a larger terrorist group.

In court Wednesday, Shareef told the judge that he felt he was entrapped by the federal agents. He said he was "pushed" and "coerced" into committing the more serious offenses.

However, he stuck by his guilty plea and the judge said some of those issues can be discussed as part of the sentencing process.