Dilshod Khusanov, Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS, New York 2024

Grimy Times Exclusive: In a shocking turn of events, Dilshod Khusanov, a resident of New York, pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and Al-Nusra Front, a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Criminal Charges: Attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and Al-Nusra Front.

City and State: New York, New York.

Exact Date: Today.

Sentence or Outcome: Khusanov faces 11 years’ imprisonment pursuant to the terms of his plea agreement with the government. As part of his plea agreement, the defendant agrees to the entry of an order of removal so he will be removed from the country after completing his sentence.

Background: According to court filings, Khusanov encouraged individuals to travel to Syria to wage violent jihad, or holy war in 2014 and 2015. For example, on September 28, 2014, Khusanov urged co-conspirator Akmal Zakirov to engage in jihad: “I hope that the only [reason] that is preventing you from jihad is some mistakes and flaws that are occurring among” the other fighters. Khusanov explained that it would be better to help those fighters, rather than criticize them.

Law Enforcement Agencies: Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Mark J. Lesko, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.