Woodbridge Man Attempted to Join ISIL, Two Facing Terrorism Charges: DA

WOODBRIDGE, VA - Two Woodbridge men are facing terrorism charges in relation to one of the men’s attempt to join ISIL, according to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Joseph Hassan Farrokh, 28, of Woodbridge was arrested Friday afternoon at the Richmond International Airport as he attempted to board a flight to Chicago from where he intended on boarding a flight to Amman, Jordan with a final destination of Syria. Mahmoud Amin Mohamed Elhassan, 25, of Woodbridge was arrested Friday evening after driving Farrokh to the airport and being interviewed by FBI agents.

According to criminal complaints, Farrokh has been engaged in efforts to leave the United States to join ISIL since November 2015. Elhassan introduced Farrokh to a person who he believed maintained connections to individuals engaged in jihad overseas, the DA said. Elhassan also knew of Farrokh’s plans to travel to Syria to join ISIL and allegedly told others that Farrokh was falsely telling his family that he intended to travel to Saudi Arabia to study.

Elhassan drove Farrokh to Richmond on Friday to a location approximately one mile from the airport, the DA said. Farrokh then took a cab to the airport and was arrested as he approached the departure gate.

The DA said Elhassan voluntarily consented to an interview by the FBI and made a number of false statements to the federal agents including when he had last seen Farrokh and that Farrokh was traveling to California from Dulles International Airport to attend a funeral.

Farrokh, a U.S. citizen originally from Pennsylvania, has been charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Elhassan, a legal permanent U.S. resident originally from Sudan, has been charged with aiding and abetting Farrokh’s attempt to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Both men face a maximum penalty of 20 years if convicted. An initial court appearance has been set for Jan. 19 at the federal courthouse in Alexandria.

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