ISIS Supporter In Lorain County Sentenced To 16 Years

SHEFFIELD LAKE, OH — Offering support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, better known as ISIS, has gotten a Sheffield Lake man sentenced to 16 years in prison. The man attempted to recruit Americans to ISIS's cause, said he wanted to perpetrate an attack on American soil, and then tried to buy an AK-47 assault rifle, the Department of Justice said.

“This case is a stark reminder that ISIS is more than an abstract threat,” said U.S Attorney Justin Herdman. “Through social media and other means, ISIS and groups like it seek to radicalize people of all backgrounds into its world of violence.”

Amir Said Rahman Al-Ghazi, 41, aka Robert C. McCollum, pledged his support to ISIS and Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi on social media in 2014. Between July 2014 and June 2015, he made multiple statements trying to recruit others to join ISIS, the DOJ said. He also said he wanted to launch his own attack on Americans and tried to purchase an AK-47.

During this time, he also communicated with individuals believed to be members of ISIS in the Middle East. Al-Ghazi also began creating propaganda videos for ISIS, according to court documents.

After being arrested and charged, Al-Ghazi was sentenced to 16 years in prison for one count of providing material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. He was also convicted on two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms.

“The National Security Division is committed to identifying and prosecuting those who seek to provide material support to terrorist groups like ISIS.” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers. “I want to thank the prosecutors and our partners in law enforcement—including the FBI and its Joint Terrorism Task Force—who ensured that this defendant was held accountable for his crimes.”

Al-Ghazi changed his name from Robert McCollum last year, the DOJ said.

The investigation into Al-Ghazi was led by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.

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