WESTLAND (WWJ) - A 34-year-old Westland man has been charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and for being a felon in possession of a destructive device, federal agents announced on Tuesday.
In an indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Michigan, Aws Mohammed Naser, 34, formerly of Westland was accused of trying to help ISIS between 2011 and October 2017 in form of personnel — himself — and services.
Agents said Naser knew ISIS was a designated foreign terrorist organization.
He is also charged with being in possession of a destructive device in October 2017.
The federal indictment was announced by Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison of the Eastern District of Michigan, and James A. Tarasca, Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit, Michigan office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
"Terrorism poses significant threats to people living in our District and around the world,” Ison said in a prepared statement. “We will aggressively investigate and prosecute anyone who seeks to aid terrorists.”
“Today’s indictment serves to remind others what can happen if they attempt to provide assistance to a foreign terrorist organization,” Special Agent Tarasca said. “The FBI will make every effort to protect Americans at home and abroad and to bring other like-minded criminals to justice.”
Naser faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted for attempting to support ISIS and up to 15 years in prison for possessing the destructive device, agents added.