Justice Department: Arizona man indicted for supporting ISIS
Aug 27, 2015, 12:47 PM | Updated: 6:58 pm
FILE - This undated file image posted on a militant website on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014, which has been verified and is consistent with other AP reporting, shows fighters from the al-Qaida linked Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), now called the Islamic State group, marching in Raqqa, Syria. When Islamic State fighters routed Syrian government forces and took control of the ruins of Palmyra Thursday, May 21, 2015 morning, the ancient city became the latest archaeological heritage site to fall into the hands of the militant group. (Militant Website via AP, File)
(Militant Website via AP, File)
PHOENIX — An Arizona man was indicted Thursday for allegedly supporting the Islamic State militant group known as ISIS.
Ahmed Mohammed El Gammal, 42, allegedly helped a New York City college student travel to Syria via Turkey to receive military-style training from ISIS. The indictment said Gammal and the unidentified student communicated for months before Gammal flew to Manhattan to meet the student.
Gammal allegedly gave the student social media contact information for a person who lives in Turkey and remained in contact with the pair as the student made his way to Syria. The student received ISIS military training for at least three months.
Gammal, a resident of Avondale, was arrested Monday.
“Individuals like Gammal who allegedly serve as facilitators for ISIL fuel the hatred and radicalization that keep terrorist organizations like ISIL alive,” U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a release.
Gammal was charged with one count each of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and one count of conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, receiving military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization and conspiring to receive military-type training from a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Some of the charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison while others carry a mandatory sentence of 10 years.
