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Jesse Curtis Morton, aka Younus Abdullah Muhammed pleaded guilty Friday to using his position as a leader of Revolution Muslim Organization to conspire — using the Internet – to solicit murder, make threatening communications, and use the Internet to place others in fear.

The 33-year old, a homegrown radical Islamist and resident of New York City,  entered his plea before by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady in the Eastern District of Virginia, which O’Grady accepted.

The terrorist group leader faces a maximum penalty five years in prison for each of the three charges when he is sentenced on May 18, 2012.

“Fortunately, NYPD Intelligence Division detectives were in a position to learn exactly how Morton used the Internet to conspire to solicit murder, and how he encouraged others to solicit the murder of an artist whose material he deemed offensive,” said New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

“This important plea resulted because the NYPD’s monitoring of Morton’s activities, combined with the investigative and prosecutorial expertise of the FBI and the U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Virginia, made for a strong case, in addition to a strong partnership,” Kelly added.

According to court documents, Morton founded Revolution Muslim in December 2007 and created various online forums that contained postings and information supportive of violent extremism. Morton and his associates used the organization’s websites to encourage Muslims to engage in violence against those they believed to be enemies of Islam and to support Osama bin Laden, Anwar Al-Awlaki, al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and others espousing violence.

They posted messages in support of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the November 2009 killings by Army Major Nidal Hasan at Ft. Hood, and attacks and future threats against Jewish organizations, among others.

Through his online forums, Morton conspired with Zachary Chesser, of Fairfax County, Virginia., and others to solicit the murder of an artist tied to the “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” movement in May 2010, including posting online a magazine that included the artist in a hit list for violent extremists to take out and a message from Anwar Al-Awlakithat explicitly called for the artist’s assassination.

Morton posted online a speech stating that “Islam’s position is that those that insult the Prophet may be killed” and exhorting his listeners to fight the “disbelievers near you.”

In addition, Morton admitted through his statement of facts that he aided Chesser in taking repeated steps in April 2010 to encourage violent extremists to attack the writers of South Park for an episode that featured Muhammad in a bear suit, including highlighting their residence and urging online readers to “pay them a visit.”

Chesser had been arrested on July 21, 2010, charged with providing material support to the Somali-based Al Shabaab and later also pleaded guilty to communicating threats and soliciting violent extremists to desensitize law enforcement.

Four days after Chesser’s arrest, Morton fled to Morocco, where he resided until his arrest on U.S. charges on May 26, 2011.