An Orange County man who admitted that he attempted to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and making a false statement in a passport application was sentenced today to 15 years in federal prison.
Adam Dandach, 22, of Orange, was sentenced this morning by United States District Judge James V. Selna. After he completes his 180-month prison term, Dandach will be on supervised release for the remainder of his life.
In sentencing Dandach, Judge Selna said the defendant’s conduct was “serious,” required “significant planning,” and went on for more than a year.
When he pleaded guilty in August 2015, Dandach admitted that, beginning in approximately November 2013 and continuing until July 2, 2014, he attempted to travel to Syria to join ISIL with the purpose of providing material support to the designated foreign terrorist organization. He further admitted that he knew that ISIL was a designated foreign terrorist organization that engaged in terrorist activity and terrorism.
Dandach “read materials on achieving martyrdom through jihadi fighting,” communicated with others affiliated with ISIL in Syria to obtain information about joining the group, and made online posts that celebrated terrorists, prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum filed with the court.
“Terrorist organizations that reach into our nation via social media and other online recruiting efforts continue to pose a grave threat to our national security,” said United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “I commend the excellent work of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in this case, which discovered Dandach’s plan and prevented an American from becoming a fighter for the world’s most dangerous terrorist organization.”
According to court documents, on July 1, 2014, Dandach purchased a ticket to fly from Orange County to Istanbul. The FBI intercepted Dandach at the John Wayne International Airport the following day. Dandach told FBI special agents that his ultimate destination was Syria and that he intended to pledge allegiance to ISIL’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He explained that he wished to live under the control of ISIL and intended to undergo weapons training.
Dandach also admitted that he made a false statement in a passport application, namely that he had lost his previous passport. In fact, a family member had taken Dandach’s passport from him in 2013 when he expressed an interest in traveling to Syria.
The investigation in this case was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in Orange County.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Celeste Corlett and Annamartine Salick of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant – Adam Dandach, Charges – Attempting to Provide Material Support to a Terrorist Organization, City and State – Orange, California, Date – August 2015, Sentence – 15 years in federal prison, Supervised Release – remainder of his life.
Related Federal Cases
- Murat Kurashev, Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization, California 2021 · California
- Enrique Marquez Jr, Providing Material Support to Terrorists, California 2011 · California
- Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, Material Support to ISIS, California 2024 · Indiana
- Murat Kurashev, Terror Support, California 2024 · Iowa
- Robert Paul Rundo, Conspiracy to Violate Anti-Riot Act, California 2023 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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