Alleged ISIS Supporter Indicted: U.S. Attorney

An Edgewood man who allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS has been indicted on four charges, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland announced Thursday.

Mohamed Elshinawy, 30, of Edgewood, has been detained since Dec. 11, 2015, when the FBI took him into custody, and the indictment was handed down on Jan. 13, 2016, the U.S. Attorney reported.

A federal grand jury included the following in the indictment:

• Providing and attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization
• Terrorism financing
• Making false statements in connection with a terrorism matter
• Conspiring to provide material support to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization

“According to the allegations in the indictment, Elshinawy conspired to provide material support to ISIL and received funds in order to carry out an attack,” Assistant Attorney General Carlin said in a statement.

“When confronted by the FBI, he lied in order to conceal his support for ISIL and the steps he took to provide material support to the deadly foreign terrorist organization,” Carlin said.

A search of Elshinawy’s computer and online interactions revealed that he asked a childhood friend who lives in Egypt to relay that he had pledged allegiance to ISIS on Feb. 17, 2015, officials reported. He “stated that his soul was over there with the jihadists and that every time he saw the news, he smiled,” the affidavit said.

Authorities allege Elshinawy provided ISIS with financial and personnel support as well as communication.

Elshinawy and his Egyptian friend discussed “obtaining or making an explosive device and possible targets,” the U.S. Attorney reports. Elshinawy said he had “many targets but was taking his time,” the indictment states.

When the FBI raided his Honda Accord and his Edgewood townhouse in October, they reportedly found homemade bomb-making materials, weapons parts and weapons.

The FBI also found a hot spot; burner phones with recent, ongoing communications with ISIS operatives; and documents showing wire transfers and funds, the affidavit stated. He had allegedly tried to conceal his communications with ISIS after being questioned by the FBI.

• Edgewood Man Pretended He Was Stealing from ISIS: Feds
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“This indictment is the next step in holding Elshinawy accountable,” Carlin said. “The National Security Division remains committed to protecting the nation from terrorist threats, and we will continue to pursue and disrupt those who seek to provide material support to ISIL.”

Conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization carries a maximum sentence of 15 years; collecting terrorism financing has a maximum sentence of 20 years; and making material false statements has a maximum sentence of eight years.

A court date has not been set for Elshinawy, the U.S. Attorney reports.