NEWARK, NJ — A Middlesex County man has been charged with making false statements and committing perjury after federal authorities say he denied ties to a terrorist organization while applying for U.S. citizenship.
Gafur Abdudzhamilovich Aliev, 44, of Edison, was indicted by a federal grand jury on two counts: one of making a false statement on a naturalization application and one of perjury, U.S. Attorney John Giordano announced Friday.
According to the indictment, between January 2018 and January 2020, Aliev was a moderator or member of encrypted social media channels that targeted supporters and potential recruits of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.
On several occasions in 2020, Aliev allegedly told a confidential source that he had sent money to ISIS for weapons and justified financial support for jihad. In one instance, he said sending “even a small amount of money ($100 to $400)” was acceptable. He also said jihad required financial support to purchase necessary equipment.
Despite these admissions, Aliev signed his U.S. naturalization application on December 26, 2020, falsely claiming under penalty of perjury that he had never been associated with a terrorist group.
The charge of making a false statement on a naturalization application carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The perjury charge carries up to five years and a $250,000 fine.
Aliev is scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Cathy L. Waldor via videoconference.
“Aliev… falsely stated in his application for naturalization that he had never been… associated with a terrorist organization,” the indictment states.
Key Points:
- Gafur Aliev, 44, charged with lying about ISIS ties on naturalization application.
- Indictment says Aliev supported ISIS through encrypted social media and financial aid.
- He faces up to 15 years in prison and $500,000 in fines if convicted.
