Friend of San Bernardino shooter charged with helping terror plot

A man who bought the assault rifles used by his friend in the San Bernardino massacre has been charged with terrorism-related counts. As expected, federal prosecutors charged Enrique Marquez today with conspiring with Syed Rizwan Farook to commit terrorism in 2011 and 2012.

Marquez allegedly purchased the guns used by Farook and his wife to kill 14 people at a holiday gathering of Farook’s health department co-workers on Dec. 2. He was a neighbor and longtime friend of Farook’s. The two had plotted an earlier terror attack but called it off. The Los Angeles Times reported Marquez was a shy man on whom Farook had a big influence. Marquez started attending a mosque about four or five years ago.

Marquez faces an additional immigration charge for a sham marriage with a member of Farook’s family; he and Farook’s brother are married to sisters from Russia.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.