Edgewood Man Guilty Of Supporting ISIS, Terror Attack Plans

EDGEWOOD, MD — An Edgewood man has pleaded guilty to supporting the terrorist group ISIS and receiving money to be used for a terrorist attack in the United States, federal authorities say. Mohamed Elshinawy, 32, pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to conspiring to provide material support to the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS); providing and attempting to provide material support to ISIS terrorism financing; and making false statements in connection with a terrorism matter.

According to the plea agreement, Elshinawy conspired with others to knowingly provide material support and resources to ISIS, knowing that ISIS was a designated foreign terrorist organization. From February 2015 through about December 11, 2015, in Maryland and elsewhere, Elshinawy conspired with others to provide material support and resources, including personnel, services (including means and methods of communication), and financial services, to ISIS. Elshinawy and his co-conspirators communicated in secret in order to conceal their criminal association and activities from law enforcement.

Federal prosecutors say Elshinawy expressed his support for an Islamic caliphate and his belief in the legitimacy of ISIS. In addition, he expressed his hope that ISIS would be victorious and its enemies defeated, and discussed his readiness to travel to live in the Islamic State. In various conversations, Elshinawy pledged his allegiance to ISIS, described himself as its soldier, committed to making violent jihad, and asked that others convey his message of loyalty to ISIS leadership.

Elshinawy also received $8,700 from a foreign company to be used to fund a terrorist attack in the United States.

In an interview with FBI agents on July 17, 2015, in an effort to conceal and minimize his criminal involvement with ISIS, Elshinawy provided false information regarding the total amount of money he had received from ISIS operatives and claimed his intent was to defraud ISIS of money. Throughout his interviews, Elshinawy mischaracterized the true nature and extent of his association with ISIS operatives and the support he had provided to ISIS, prosecutors say.

The maximum sentence for conspiracy to provide and for providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization is 20 years in prison; the maximum sentence for collection of terrorism financing is 20 years in prison; and the maximum sentence for making false statements in a terrorism matter is eight years in prison. A date has not yet been set for his sentencing. Elshinawy has been detained since his arrest on Dec. 11, 2015, on related charges.

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