Passaic Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support To ISIS

NEWARK, N.J. - A Passaic County man was charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS), U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer and Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg announced.

"As alleged, the defendant sought to support ISIS and expressed interest in violence directed at targets within the United States, including places of worship. 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."

- U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer

"The defendant allegedly wanted to attack targets in the United States in support of ISIS and its hateful ideology, but the FBI detected and put a stop to his violent plans," said Assistant Director Donald Holstead of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division. "This should be a stark reminder to the American people of the FBI's resolve to pursue anyone who tries to harm Americans and provide material support to terrorist organizations, and we will work with our Justice Department partners to make sure they face justice."

Mohamed Sagha, 22, of Wayne, New Jersey was charged by complaint with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS. He made his initial appearance today in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda D. Wettre. He was ordered detained.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

From approximately December 2025 to June 2026, Sagha participated in one or more online chat groups wherein ISIS supporters discussed, among other things, potential attacks on targets within the United States, including places of worship. In or around October 2025, Sagha met a confidential human source ("CHS") online, whom Sagha believed to be a member of ISIS.

In his discussions with the CHS, Sagha expressed an intent to assist one of the members of an ISIS-supporters online chat group with an attack on a place of worship. Sagha also told the CHS he was contemplating carrying out an attack of his own, possibly on a National Guard location or on a Jewish place of worship. Sagha then shared images and/or videos of both locations with the CHS, and stated that they were near Sagha's residence in Wayne, New Jersey.

During these conversations, the CHS repeatedly held himself out as an ISIS fighter, sending Sagha messages and photographs that indicated the CHS was in ISIS territory in Syria. These included a photograph of the CHS in the back of a truck holding an ISIS flag, as well as a photograph of the CHS leaning against a vehicle over which the ISIS flag was draped, holding what appeared to be an AK-47-style assault rifle. Sagha, in turn, repeatedly expressed a desire to travel to ISIS territory, and even made an unsuccessful attempt at doing so in early March, 2026.

Between on or about May 31, 2026 and June 2, 2026, Sagha and the CHS discussed the use of a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for the CHS and other ISIS fighters referred to as "brothers." VPN technology enables users to conceal their online activities, mask their locations and identities, and communicate with greater anonymity. In the hands of members of a foreign terrorist organization, the technology can assist efforts to evade detection, maintain communications, and further the organization's activities. Sagha ultimately purchased a VPN, sent it to the CHS-whom he believed to be a member of a terrorist organization-and explained to the CHS how to use the VPN.

The count of attempt to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization has a maximum penalty of twenty years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a term of life of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Frazer and Assistant Attorney General Eisenberg made the announcement. U.S. Attorney Frazer credited the special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Newark Division, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy, and officers of the New York City Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch, and the Wayne Police Department, under the direction of Chief Joseph Rooney, with the investigation leading to today's charges.

The government is represented by Senior National Security Counsel Sammi Malek of the National Security Unit, and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Jay Rezai of the U.S. Department of Justice's Counterterrorism Section of the National Security Division.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Defense counsel: Linda Foster, Assistant Federal Public Defender.