California Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Financial and Weapons Support to ISIS
Ammaad Akhtar, 34, of California, has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organisation.
According to court documents, Akhtar, a United States citizen, attempted to provide financial assistance, firearms and other equipment to ISIS between February and June 2025. During this period, he communicated online with an undercover law enforcement officer whom he believed was an ISIS member. In their conversations, Akhtar expressed support for the terrorist organisation and jihad, discussed his desire to travel overseas to join its fighters and offered to send weapons and money to the group.
In April 2025, Akhtar provided financial assistance to the individual on multiple occasions as part of the undercover operation. Following several payments, the undercover officer informed him that ISIS had obtained firearms using the money he had transferred. Akhtar responded by expressing hostility towards the group's perceived enemies and confirming his intention to send additional funds.
Court records also revealed that Akhtar discussed plans for violent attacks, including targeting a specific individual and using homemade explosives. He expressed a desire to die while fighting for ISIS and requested instructions for constructing an improvised explosive device to carry out an attack at a crowded public event.
The investigation reached another significant stage on June 23, 2025, when Akhtar met an individual he believed was associated with ISIS but who was actually an undercover agent. During the meeting, he handed over clothing, binoculars, $400 in cash, two loaded firearms and six additional ammunition magazines. He subsequently pledged bayat, an oath of allegiance, to ISIS.
Akhtar's guilty plea marks a significant development in the investigation and highlights the security risks posed by individuals attempting to financially or materially support terrorist organisations. The case also demonstrates the role of undercover investigations in identifying and disrupting potential terrorist activities before they can develop into attacks.
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