Two Tucson Men Admit to Conspiring to Travel to the Middle East to Fight for Isis

TUCSON, Ariz. – Ahmed Mahad Mohamed, 26, and Abdi Yemeni Hussein, 25, both citizens of Somalia, who were living in Tucson at the time of the offense, pleaded guilty last week to Conspiracy to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Sentencing is scheduled for October 11, 2024, before United States District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps.

From late 2018 until their arrest on July 26, 2019, Mohamed and Hussein conspired with each other to travel to Egypt for the purpose of fighting for ISIS in the Sinai Peninsula.

Beginning in at least August 2018, Mohamed sought out other ISIS supporters online, stating that he wanted to travel to ISIS-controlled territory to become “the beheading guy” and martyr himself. Mohamed also stated that his only dream was to go to Syria, join ISIS, and “fight jihad,” and he indicated that his friend, Hussein, also desired to travel to ISIS territory abroad. Mohamed and Hussein met in person in 2019 to discuss their plans. Mohamed reiterated that his goal was to fight for ISIS abroad. Hussein told Mohamed that they would either reach ISIS territory “or we go to jail,” and suggested attacking the White House if they were prevented from traveling.

By June 2019, the defendants began making travel arrangements to join ISIS. They both sold their cars and purchased plane tickets from Tucson to Cairo. On the morning of July 26, 2019, the defendants checked in for their flight at the Tucson International Airport, went through security screening, and walked to the departure gate. Mohamed was carrying approximately $10,000 that he and Hussein planned to use for travel expenses and to buy firearms. Once in Egypt, the defendants intended to smuggle themselves into the ISIS-controlled area of the Sinai Peninsula so they could work under the direction and control of ISIS. Before Mohamed and Hussein could board their flight, the FBI arrested them.

A conviction for Conspiracy to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both. Both defendants have agreed to a judicial order of removal and will be removed from the United States to Somalia following any term of imprisonment.

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force conducted the investigation in this case. The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are handling the prosecution.
 

CASE NUMBER:            CR-19-2162-TUC-JGZ
RELEASE NUMBER:    2024-109_Mohamed, et.al.

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