A Houston man who allegedly told undercover FBI agents that he planned to fight for ISIS or carry out a domestic terrorist attack on the group’s behalf in online conversations was arrested by federal agents on Dec. 8.
Kaan Sercan Damlarkaya, 18, is charged with unlawfully distributing explosives information and attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, the Department of Justice reports. If convicted of both crimes, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
Undercover FBI agents and other sources began online communications with Damlarkaya in August, according to a criminal complaint. Damlarkaya allegedly shared instructions to build a pressure cooker bomb, and instructions to build an AK-47 or AR-15, with ISIS supporters.
Damlarkaya also allegedly told FBI agents that he tried and failed to travel to Syria on two occasions and that he carried a knife in case he was stopped by police and slept with a machete under his pillow in case police raided his house, according to the complaint.
Damlarkaya made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Palermo on Tuesday. A detention hearing is scheduled for today, and Damlarkaya remains in custody.