A New York City man pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of providing material support to the Islamic State.
Prosecutors said Ali Saleh, 25, of Queens, repeatedly attempted to travel to the Middle East to fight for ISIS. Their evidence, according to court filings, includes social media posts and statements to law enforcement agents.
In August 2014, Saleh stated online that he is ready to “die for the Caliphate, prison is nothing.” A few days later he posted that “one who is capable to go over and help the Muslims must go and help,” according to court documents.
That same day, Saleh booked an airline ticket to Turkey, a country bordering Syria where the Islamic State had formed the Caliphate. However, he was denied entry on the airplane because his parents took away his passport, prosecutors said.
Court records show that Saleh then redirected his efforts to financing others’ support of the Islamic State, better known by the acronym ISIS. Saleh communicated with an Islamic State supporter, even sending $500 to fund that person’s travel to Syria, prosecutors said.
Saleh was eventually arrested in 2016 and has been incarcerated since September of that year.
He faces up to 35 years in prison.
“Ali Saleh attempted to travel to the Middle East to become an ISIS fighter, funded other foreign fighters, posted instructions to make explosive devices and transported explosive materials,” U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of New York Richard Donoghue said. “The defendant’s persistent efforts to aid ISIS were defeated by the outstanding work of law enforcement officers who stopped him before he could do harm.”
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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