(The Center Square)—As Islamic terror incidents and national security threats increased under the Biden administration, major arrests, indictments and guilty pleas were recently announced in Virginia, North Carolina and Florida.
In Vienna, Virginia, 34-year-old former CIA analyst Asif William Rahman pleaded guilty Friday to retaining and transmitting “Top Secret National Defense Information,” including removing classified documents, photographing them, transmitting them, and destroying devices, according to a federal complaint. IHe was indicted by a grand jury and arrested last November. He remains in federal custody and faces 10 years in prison for both counts of willful retention and transmission of classified information related to national defense.
Classified documents he shared appeared on social media platforms detailing a U.S. foreign ally’s planned actions against a foreign adversary, the complaint states.
Raham, who had a Top-Secret security clearance with access to sensitive compartmented information, also “deleted and edited journal entries and written work product on his personal electronic devices to conceal his personal opinions on U.S. policy and drafted entries to construct a false narrative regarding his activity,” investigators said. He also admitted to destroying multiple electronic devices, including a personal cell phone and internet router he used to transmit classified information and photographs of classified documents. He also admitted to discarding them in public trash receptacles to avoid being caught.
For roughly six months last year, Rahman repeatedly accessed and printed classified national defense information, took them to his residence, reproduced them, altered them and communicated top secret information from his job to multiple people, the complaint states.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Jessica Aber said, “Rahman’s actions placed lives at risk, undermined U.S. foreign relations, and compromised our ability to collect vital intelligence in the future.”
On Thursday, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael Easley Jr. announced a criminal complaint against a 29-year-old Durham, North Carolina, resident was unsealed for his plan to join ISIS and engage in acts of terrorism.
Alexander Justin White was arrested prior to boarding a flight to Morocco to join ISIS. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
From May to October last year, under the name “Sulaiman Al-Amriki,” he allegedly made multiple social media posts supporting ISIS, including posting ISIS recruitment and fundraising videos. He was also involved in financial transactions with refugee camps known to be fronts to funnel money to ISIS members, according to the complaint.
His alleged goal was to join ISIS and become “a mujahideen,” a martyr, to fight “jihad,” Islamic holy war, according to the complaint. When making travel plans, he made it “appear as nothing more than a vacation when he in fact claimed that he would rather die than return to the United States,” the complaint states.
“We work closely with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to shut down suspected terrorist activities in the United States, including American citizens willing to commit violence against our troops,” Easley said.
The investigation involved the FBI’s Raleigh-based Joint Terrorism Task Force, including multiple local and state law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service and Morocco General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance were involved.
In Orlando, Florida, 44-year-old Jordanian Hashem Younis Hashem Hnaihen recently pleaded guilty to four counts of threatening to use explosives and one count of destruction of an energy facility. In convicted, he faces decades in prison.
According to court documents, beginning last June, a masked man began targeting and attacking Orlando-area businesses because of their perceived support for Israel. “Warning letters” to the federal government were left, including political demands and threats to “destroy or explode everything here in whole America. Especially the companies and factories that support the racist state of Israel,” according to the complaint.
Next, a solar power generation facility in Wedgefield, Florida, was destroyed. Solar panels were smashed, wires were cut, critical electronic equipment damaged, and threatening demand letters were also left. Another warning letter threatening to “destroy or explode everything” was found at an industrial propane gas distribution depot in Orlando.
A multi-agency law enforcement effort then identified Hnaihen, which led to his arrest in July. He pleaded guilty in December.
The announcements come as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security recently warned of likely terrorist attacks, The Center Square reported.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.