Legal Battle Ends: Family of San Bernardino Terrorist Relinquishes Insurance Proceeds

Section 1: Background and Policies

The article discusses the forfeiture of life insurance policies owned by Syed Rizwan Farook, the San Bernardino terrorist attacker. It details the two policies, one received in 2012 through his job and another purchased in 2013 from Minnesota Life Insurance Co.

Section 2: Terrorist Plans Unveiled

Starting in 2011, Farook and accomplice Enrique Marquez Jr. planned a terrorist attack, discussing martyrdom. The tragic event occurred on December 2, 2015, when they killed 14 people and wounded 22 at the Inland Regional Center.

Section 3: Legal Battle Unfolds

Minnesota Life paid out the policies, but the government sought to seize the money, claiming it was derived from a federal crime. Farook’s mother and sister, the beneficiaries, signaled their desire to end the legal dispute in October 2023.

Section 4: Closure and Reasons for Ending the Legal Battle

On December 19, 2023, Judge Jesus G. Bernal ordered a check for $280,756.17, plus interest, to be delivered to the U.S. Marshal’s Service. The decision to end the legal battle was driven by the beneficiaries’ pursuit of closure and avoidance of reopening painful wounds.

Section 5: Potential Use of Insurance Money

The article concludes with uncertainty about how the government will utilize the life insurance money obtained since 2016.

Section 6: Related Cases

The insurance case is highlighted as one of several legal actions resulting from the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attack. It briefly mentions the sentencing of individuals involved in a marriage fraud scheme linked to the attack.