Prosecutors charged a 22-year-old man Monday for allegedly discussing possible attacks in the U.S. in at least one pro-ISIS group chat and plotting one of his own.
The Justice Deparment (DOJ) charged Mohamed Sagha with one count of trying ot give material support and resources to the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), according to a press release. Sagha allegedly discussed using a virtual private network (VPN) with a confidential human source he believed to be a member of ISIS online. Sagha bought the VPN, provided it to the source and explained how to employ it, according to court documents and allegations in court. (RELATED: Iryna Zarutska’s Alleged Murderer Unable To Stand Trial ‘At This Time’)
Sagha allegedly met the confidential human source online around October 2025. He told the source he wanted to help one of the members of an ISIS-backing group chat he was part of commit an attack on a place of worship, according to the DOJ. The suspect allegedly participated in at least one online group chat from December 2025 to June 2026 in which ISIS supporters talked about possible terror attacks in the U.S., including at places of worship.
The suspect also allegedly told the source that he was thinking about commiting an attack of his own against either a National Guard position or a Jewish synagogue. The suspect allegedly shared photos or footage of both potential targets with the source and indicated both targets were close to his residence in Wayne, New Jersey.
CASE UPDATE from @FBINewark: Passaic Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS
From approximately December 2025 to June 2026, Mohamed Sagha participated in one or more online chat groups wherein supporters of the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS)… pic.twitter.com/TvIj2sS1S2
— FBI (@FBI) June 8, 2026
The source allegedly sent Sagha messages and images suggested he was in ISIS-held Syrian lands. This included a photo of himself holding an ISIS flag in the back of the truck, according to the DOJ. Sagha allegedly said he wanted to go to ISIS-held territory and unsuccessfully tried going in March 2026.
U.S. Attorney or the District of New Jersey Robert Frazer credited the Wayne Police Department, the New York City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s Newark Division for investigating the case.
Frazer reacted to Sagha’s arrest in the press release. “As alleged, the defendant sought to support ISIS and expressed interest in violence directed at targets within the United States, including places of worship,” Frazer said.
“Those who seek to advance the objectives of foreign terrorist organizations should expect a swift and coordinated response from federal law enforcement. This Office will continue working relentlessly with our law enforcement partners to identify, disrupt, and prosecute individuals who support terrorism and threaten the safety of our communities,” he continued.
Sagha appeared in federal court Monday, where a judge ordered him detained, according to the DOJ. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a life term of supervised release.
Sagha is not the first person to be charged with offering material support to ISIS.
Bisaam Ghafoor, Elias Shamsaldeen and Bereen Dzayee were recently charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorism, according to the DOJ. The trio allegedly collected over $2,000 and gave the funds to an individual they thought was a member of ISIS. Prosecutors said the funds were intended to buy drones and rocket-propelled grenades to kill American service members overseas. The trio purportedly pledged their allegiance to ISIS via multiple communication platforms, including Discord.