A former New Jersey resident was arrested Monday for allegedly attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, according to the Justice Department.
Federal authorities say the charges against Nader Saadeh, 20, stem from an FBI investigation into a group of individuals in New York and New Jersey and their support for the Islamic State.
Others targeted in the investigating, including Saadeh’s brother, Alaa Saadeh, were arrested in June.
Between 2012 and 2013, Saadeh sent another alleged co-conspirator electronic messages expressing his hatred for the United States and a desire to form a small army that would include their friends, Justice said. He also posted images of the Islamic State’s flag and the flag of the Islamic caliphate on his Facebook page the day and ISIS leader declared a caliphate in Syria and Iraq.
By April of 2015, Saadeh was preparing to travel overseas with other individuals. The FBI said it obtained computer files showing that Saadeh viewed ISIS propaganda videos and researched the availability of flights to Turkey, which borders Syria.
The FBI also obtained electronic messages sent to Saadeh on April 21, 2015 from family members living overseas, including his mother, who pleaded for him not to join the Islamic State.
Saadeh flew out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in May, allegedly to join ISIS, according to the Justice Department complaint. It did not say how and when he returned to the U.S.
According to Justice, the investigation also found that the night before he was set to the leave the United States, a co-conspirator provided Saadeh with the name and number of an ISIS contact near the Turkey/Syria border who would facilitate his travel to ISIS-controlled territory.
Each of the two counts against Saadeh carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison an fine of $250,000.
He was scheduled to appear in court later Monday.
