One Month Later, Fourth Boston Bomber Indicted
A little over one year after the Boston Marathon bombing, the fourth person allegedly involved in the Boston bombing, Khairullozhon Matanov, is being charged with aiding and abetting Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother, the primary suspects in the attack, as well as obstruction of justice.
Matanov, 23, is being charged with one count of destroying, altering, and falsifying records, documents, and material objects in a federal investigation. Matanov allegedly “took a series of steps to impede the FBI’s investigation into the extent of his friendship, contact, and communication with the suspected bombers, and the fact that he shared the suspected bombers’ philosophical justification for violence,” according to a statement from U.S. District Attorney Carmen Ortiz.
Matanov was arrested in his apartment, and later appeared in federal court. He did not enter a plea bargain and is currently awaiting a detention hearing on Wednesday.
The Boston Marathon bombing was an attack during the annual Boston Marathon. Two pressure cooker bombs were exploded near the finish line, killing 3 people and injuring 264. After a federal investigation, Matanov was identified as the fourth Boston bomber and will face charges up to 44 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
As the fourth Boston bomber, Matanov bought dinner for the two Tsarnaev brothers 40 minutes after the bombing. Then, Matanov proceeded to destroy hundreds of documents and obstruct the federal investigation. “In the hours and days following the bombings, Matanov contacted and attempted to contact Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev by cellphone and saw Tamerlan in person at least twice,” states the indictment. Matanov’s lawyer claims that “He had no intent to mislead the FBI and, from what I can see, whatever he did, didn’t impede the investigation.”
Although labeled as the fourth Boston bomber, Matanov actually had some future plans. “I went two years back home for the law school,” Matanov said. “I tried to get into college here, but there were some issues.” He said he still hopes to go to college in the United States. Matanov has been working as a cab driver since 2010, when he immigrated to the U.S.
As for the other two prime suspects, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 20, has pleaded not guilty to 30 federal charges and is currently awaiting trial. Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, was killed during a gun fight with police days after the bombing. The fourth Boston bomber may face less severe charges, but will definitely face prison time and a fine.
