A man from Rockford, Illinois, admitted to planning an attack at an area shopping mall by setting off grenades in garbage cans.

Derrick Shareef, 23, pleaded guilty in a federal court in Chicago to one count of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction on November 28, 2007.  Shareef planned to set off several grenades at the CherryVale Shopping Mall during the 2006 holiday shopping season, according to the indictment.  In addition to the mall, Shareef also discussed targeting local government facilities, according to court documents.    

In December 2006, Shareef was arrested after trading a set of stereo speakers for four hand grenades and a hand gun with an undercover agent in Rockford.

Shareef, a Muslim convert, was secretly recorded by an undercover agent as saying, “I swear by Allah, man, I’m down for it, too, I’m down for the cause, I’m down to live for the cause and die for the cause, man.”  He also talked about stabbing Jews and admitted to researching synagogues where he could attack Jews, according to the affidavit.

Shareef, who made a videotape of his last will and testament prior to his arrest, used to be roommates with Hassan Abujihaad, a former U.S. Navy sailor accused of supporting terrorism by disclosing classified information about ship locations.  Recorded conversations between Shareef and the undercover agent reportedly confirm that Abujihaad sent Navy ship locations to a Web site.  Shareef also said that he and Abujihaad had previously discussed attacking a military base in San Diego or a recruiting station in Phoenix.

Shareef faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in prison.  He pleaded guilty without a plea agreement, but according to court documents the government will likely drop a remaining count of attempted arson at sentencing.