Rochester resident Mufid A. Elfgeeh pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization, in a Western District of New York court.
The plea, announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul Jr. of the Western District of New York and Special Agent in Charge Adam S. Cohen of the FBI’s Buffalo Division, was part of an ongoing effort to defeat ISIL and other terrorist groups.
Mufid Elfgeeh, 31, of Rochester, New York, used social media to declare his support for violent jihad, ISIL and other foreign terrorist groups. He also recruited and attempted to send two individuals, referred to as Individuals A and B, to Syria to join and fight on behalf of ISIL. Elfgeeh earned over $240 for Individual B to obtain a copy of his birth certificate and passport photographs, as well as an expedited passport. He also purchased a laptop computer and a high-definition action camera for Individuals A and B to take to Syria.
Elfgeeh provided guidance to Individuals A and B about traveling so that they could avoid detection and the vetting process involved in joining ISIL. In May 2014, he arranged for an overseas contact to coordinate the logistics of the trip and the admission of Individuals A and B into ISIL-controlled territory in Syria.
In addition, Elfgeeh sent $600 to an individual in Aden, Yemen, in an effort to assist that individual in traveling from Yemen to Syria for the purpose of joining and fighting on behalf of ISIL. He also communicated with a Syrian national who purported to be the military commander of a battalion.
Mufid A. Elfgeeh pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIL through his various efforts to recruit individuals, raise funds and coordinate logistics for the designated terrorist group. The National Security Division will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute anyone who seeks to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist organization.
As part of his plea agreement, Mufid Elfgeeh faces a significant prison sentence for his crimes. The public should continue to report to law enforcement any suspicious individuals or activities and thereby hasten the demise of these killers.
Elfgeeh’s efforts were ultimately thwarted by law enforcement, who used their best weapon – unity – to bring him to justice. His case is a testament to the importance of working together to prevent terrorism and protect the community.
Defendant Name: Mufid A. Elfgeeh
Criminal Charges: Attempting to Provide Material Support and Resources to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization
City and State: Rochester, New York
Exact Date: December 2013 through May 31, 2014
Sentence or Outcome: Plea Agreement in Progress
Dollar Amounts: $240, $600
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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