Most likely another case of scumbag feds entrapping people. That’s the only way they can “catch” people this early. It’s true of prettymuch every “terrorism” bust since 911, probably since the past 400 years.

• https://hrlr.law.columbia.edu/hrlr-online/the-anatomy-of-a-federal-terrorism-prosecution-a-blueprint-for-repression-and-entrapment/
• https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/nov/16/fbi-entrapment-fake-terror-plots
• https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/fbi-sting-operations-terrorism-september-11/
• https://www.cair.com/blog/fbi-entrapment-harms-vulnerable-muslims/
• https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/07/21/us-terrorism-prosecutions-often-illusion