Brooklyn Resident Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Rasheedul Mowla, a U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support or resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a foreign terrorist organization.  The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly. When sentenced, Mowla faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.

John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Sue J. Bai, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Jessica S. Tisch, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.

“Mowla sought to join a violent foreign terrorist organization that has conducted and inspired terrorist attacks worldwide, killing numerous innocent victims, including American citizens,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “Thanks to the diligent efforts of law enforcement, Mowla’s plan to join ISIS was thwarted.  This Office remains steadfast in its efforts to pursue and bring to justice those who support terrorism.”

Mr. Durham expressed his appreciation to the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force for their outstanding work on the case.

“Rasheedul Mowla made a concerted attempt to travel to Syria to join ISIS and expressed his willingness to actively support their extremist ideologies with physical violence.  He sought to jeopardize the welfare of his own country to align with a foreign terrorist organization known for killing American soldiers and innocent civilians,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “This is evidence of the FBI’s enduring commitment to leveraging the NY JTTF to interdict any United States citizen seeking to participate in terrorist activities, and ensure they no longer pose a threat to this nation.”

“Rasheedul Mowla wasn’t just planning to join ISIS—he was ready to kill and die for them,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch.  “That kind of threat demands a swift response, and thanks to the work of the NYPD and our federal partners, it was stopped before anyone got hurt.  This case underscores the importance of constant vigilance and the critical role our investigators play in keeping New York and the entire country safe.”

As detailed in publicly filed court documents, the defendant traveled to Saudi Arabia in June 2017, purportedly to celebrate an Islamic religious holiday.  Upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia, the defendant attempted to travel to Syria to join ISIS.  He was apprehended before entering Syria and, on August 29, 2017, was deported back to the United States.

The defendant previously admitted to law enforcement authorities that, prior to traveling to the Middle East, he knew that ISIS was a terrorist organization that committed terrorist attacks and killed people.  He further admitted that, had he successfully arrived in Syria to join ISIS, he was planning to shoot weapons and willing to die on behalf of ISIS.             

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Meredith A. Arfa is in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Trial Attorney John Cella of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. 

The Defendant:

RASHEEDUL MOWLA
Age:  28
Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 18-CR-487 (AMD)