(Image source from: vosizneias.com)
A New York man who showed curiosity in supporting Islamic State was convicted to 15 years in prison, United States attorneys proclaimed Monday.
Arafat M. Nagi, 47, of Lackawanna, New York, initially came onto the Federal Investigation Bureau's radar back in 2014 when the acquaintance called the law enforcement to say "it was common for Nagi to get into verbal complaints about his jihad beliefs."
The further probing revealed that he pledged allegiance to Islamic State and its leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.
"Investigators learned that the defendant traveled to Turkey on two occasions, in October 2012 and July 2014, with the intention of meeting with members of Islamic State," prosecutors said in a statement. "Prior to traveling to Turkey, the defendant purchased a large number of military combat items, including a tactical vest, army combat shirt, body armor, Shahada Flag, combat boots, backpack, burn kit, a hunting knife, machete and night vision goggles. Once in Turkey, Nagi purchased a SIM card and activated a Turkish cell phone number."
The statement further said, "Facebook messages showed that the defendant contacted other individuals, who were prepared to help the defendant enter Syria to join ISIS, and exchanged Turkish cell phone numbers. In addition, evidence seized from the defendant's electronic devices showed that the defendant, while in Turkey, was researching how to travel from Istanbul to cities close to the Syrian border."
The interviews with the acquaintance in 2015 betoken that Nagi had not changed his views and was aggravated about the United States support for Saudi-led war against Houthi rebels in Yemen.
At the sentencing hearing on Monday, Nagi told U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara that he wanted nothing to do with violence committed by the Islamic States, as reported by a media source.
In an earlier letter to Arcara, Nagi said he was only fascinated in working on humanitarian missions conducted by Islamic State.
"The most well-organized group in Syria was the Islamic State," Nagi said. "I wanted to help, not as a fighter as some suggested, but to help in a way that I won't get involved in the fighting, but to volunteer in humanitarian aid."
Nagi was found guilty of endeavoring to render material support and resources to Islamic State and will serve 15 years of imprisonment, followed by 15 years of supervised release.
Sowmya Sangam
