TUCSON, Ariz. – Ahmed Mahad Mohamed, 27, and Abdi Yemeni Hussein, 26, both Somali citizens living in Tucson, were sentenced for conspiring to support ISIS. Mohamed received 132 months in prison, while Hussein was sentenced to 96 months, both followed by lifetime supervised release. Chief U.S. District Judge Jennifer G. Zipps also ordered their deportation to Somalia after their prison terms.
The duo pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
The Plot to Join ISIS
From late 2018 through mid-2019, Mohamed and Hussein conspired to travel to Egypt to join ISIS in the Sinai Peninsula. Mohamed actively sought ISIS supporters online, expressing his intent to become “the beheading guy” and martyr himself for the cause. Hussein shared similar aspirations, even suggesting an attack on the White House if their plans to travel were thwarted.
The men sold their vehicles and bought plane tickets to Cairo in June 2019. On July 26, 2019, they attempted to board a flight from Tucson International Airport with $10,000 earmarked for travel expenses and weapons purchases. Their plan was to reach ISIS-controlled areas in Sinai and operate under ISIS command. However, FBI agents arrested them at the airport before they could board their flight.
Law Enforcement and Prosecution
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force led the investigation, with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, and the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section.
The sentencing reflects a significant effort to prevent terrorism and disrupt efforts to support ISIS, ensuring the safety and security of U.S. citizens.