DAYTON, Ohio – A Beavercreek man arrested by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force at John Glenn International Airport in 2018 while attempting to travel to Afghanistan to join ISIS Wilayat Khorasan (ISIS-K) has turned Known guilty in federal court.
Naser Almadaoji, 22, a U.S. citizen born in Iraq, should face jury trial today. On Friday evening he pleaded guilty to having tried to provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations, namely ISIS and ISIS-K, in one case – himself as staff.
“This is the one now second person from the Dayton area who have recently been held accountable for attempting to join IS, ”said Acting US Attorney Vipal J. Patel. “Whatever the grievances with our government, our country or our way of life, violence is not a solution. The provision of material support in whatever form – human, service, financial or otherwise – to designated foreign terrorist groups simply creates more terror, and every effort is made to hold those who provide that support accountable. “
According to court documents, Almadaoji bought a plane ticket to travel on October 24, 2018 and was arrested after checking in and receiving his boarding pass.
The defendant intended to travel to Astana, Kazakhstan, where he wanted to be smuggled into Afghanistan so that he could receive military training at ISIS-K in support of this terrorist group and ISIS. Almadaoji told a person he believed was an ISIS supporter that he “wanted weapons experts to train, plan and execute, hit and run, catch high quality targets, break into homes and avoid security guards. That kind of training. ”In September 2018, he started making travel plans.
Almadaoji previously traveled to Egypt and Jordan between February 16 and 24, 2018, to join the ISIS offshoot on the Sinai Peninsula, ISIS Wilayat Sinai, another designated foreign terrorist organization, but to no avail.
Almadaoji told a person posing online as an ISIS supporter about his planned conspiracy to spark a conflict between the federal government and anti-government militias in the United States. He asked the alleged IS supporter for instructions on how to build a car bomb.
In August 2018, Almadaoji also told the alleged ISIS supporter that he was “always ready” to help with “projects” in the US.
Almadaoji has recorded and broadcast a video in which he wears a headscarf and swears allegiance to the leader of the IS.
In addition, Almadaoji translated an alleged ISIS document from Arabic into English, and he told his contact, whom Almadaoji believed was part of ISIS, “Don’t thank me. . . It is my duty.”
Attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization is a federal crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Congress determines the maximum legal penalty. The conviction of the accused is determined by the court based on the advisory judgment guidelines and other legal factors.
“This case is another example of how the agents and officers of the Joint Terrorism Task Force continue to work every day to protect the community and disrupt those who support and support terrorist groups,” said the FBI Cincinnati special agent in charge , J. William Rivers. “The task force brings together law enforcement partners at the federal, state and local levels to expertly investigate evolving threats and those who may focus on violence.”
Vipal J. Patel, Acting US Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; J. William Rivers, FBI Cincinnati Special Representative; Alan J. Hill, Oakwood Director of Public Safety; and Greene County Sheriff Gene Fischer announced the plea received before Senior District Judge Walter H. Rice. US assistant attorneys Dominick S. Gerace and Nicholas A. Dingeldein and trial attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s counter-terrorism division are representing the United States on this case.
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