GAINESVILLE, Florida – A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging Mohamed Fathy Suliman with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State. Suliman, formerly of Gainesville, was arrested by the FBI following his expulsion from a foreign country.
“Protecting national security is a top priority of this office,” said U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe. “We are absolutely committed to deterring, disrupting and dismantling the plans of anyone who seeks to support a designated foreign terrorist organization. Together with our law enforcement partners, we stand ready to counter any threats to our nation or to our fellow citizens.”
The prior complaint filed in the case alleged that Suliman, 33, a U.S. citizen, left Gainesville, Florida, travelled to Turkey, and attempted to enter Syria illegally in 2014 in an effort to join and support ISIS. According to the complaint affidavit, Suliman made a one-way flight reservation in June 2014, from Orlando, Florida, to Alexandria, Egypt, with stops in Chicago, Illinois, and Istanbul, Turkey. Suliman initiated his travel on June 12, 2014, but when he arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, rather than traveling on to Egypt, Suliman paid cash for a one-way airline ticket to the Turkish/Syrian border town of Gaziantep, Turkey.
On June 14, 2014, Suliman was arrested by Turkish authorities for illegally crossing into Syria from Turkey. During an interview of Suliman by an FBI agent in 2018, the indictment alleges that Suliman stated he had researched how to get to Syria, and had purchased the plane ticket to Egypt to disguise his true travel plans from family and others. Suliman also allegedly admitted that he purchased the airline ticket to Gaziantep, Turkey, with cash to avoid creating an electronic record of the purchase. Suliman went on to admit that he attempted to enter Syria and was arrested by Turkish authorities.
“The FBI Jacksonville Joint Terrorism Task Force will spare no resource in our work to protect Americans from threats posed by violent foreign terrorist organizations,” said Rachel L. Rojas, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division. “This case illustrates our steadfast commitment and tireless efforts to identify and bring to justice those who threaten our national security by assisting those organizations and promoting violent extremism.”
On February 10, an investigator in the case testified that “Suliman said when he does not take his medication, he becomes depressed and manic. According to TV20′s Dylan Lyons, Suliman told the agent that he turns from a “moderate Muslim” to a “Jihadist Muslim.””
Suliman’s arraignment hearing is scheduled for March 3, at 2:30 p.m. EST, at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville. If convicted, Suliman faces a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
