Law enforcement officials said a New York man has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide and conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers and U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman for the Southern District of New York said Adam Raishani, aka “Saddam Mohamed Raishani,” 32, of the Bronx, New York, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams.
The complaint alleged that beginning in at least the fall of 2015, Raishani conspired with another ISIS supporter to provide material support to ISIS by traveling abroad to join and fight for ISIS. Between January and June 2017, Raishani had a series of meetings with individuals who were, unbeknownst to Raishani, a confidential source working at the direction of law enforcement and an undercover law enforcement officer.
During that time, Raishani admitted he had previously helped another person travel overseas to join the Islamic State, and stated that he intended to travel overseas to join ISIS himself while also downloading and viewing violent ISIS propaganda.
Raishani pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. He also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support or resources to ISIS, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for March 8, 2019.