A former Iraqi refugee and legal permanent resident of Richmond, Texas, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Abdulrahman Mohammed Hafedh Alqaysi, 28, acknowledged his involvement in supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). From 2015 to 2020, he utilized his computer skills to assist the ISIS media arm known as the Kalachnikov team.
He provided hacking videos, instructions, stolen credit card data, and fraudulently produced identity documents to ISIS members. U.S. District Judge Alfred Bennett accepted Alqaysi’s plea and scheduled sentencing for June 5.
Alqaysi faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He remains in custody awaiting sentencing. The case was investigated by the FBI Houston Joint Terrorism Task Force with support from Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Winter is leading the prosecution, assisted by Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.