Abdelhamid Al-Madioum, a 27-year-old resident of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, was sentenced today to 10 years in federal prison for providing material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
U.S. District Judge Ann D. Montgomery handed down the sentence following Al-Madioum’s guilty plea in January 2021. In addition to the prison term, Al-Madioum will face 15 years of supervised release upon his release from custody.
Read: Kentucky Man Found Guilty Of Supporting ISIS And Receiving Terrorist Training
According to court documents, Al-Madioum departed the United States in June 2015 with his family, ostensibly to visit relatives in Morocco. However, he secretly traveled to Syria to join and fight for ISIS. While with the terrorist group, Al-Madioum received military training and served as a soldier until he was injured in late 2015. He then transitioned to a role as a personnel database administrator for ISIS, continuing to provide support to the organization until his capture by Syrian Democratic Forces in March 2019.
Prosecutors acknowledged Al-Madioum’s cooperation with authorities in other terrorism cases, which contributed to their recommendation for a lower sentence than the statutory maximum of 20 years. Al-Madioum also expressed remorse during the sentencing hearing, weeping openly and acknowledging the harm he caused.
Al-Madioum’s attorney, Manvir Atwal, requested a seven-year sentence, arguing that her client had been manipulated by ISIS propaganda and had since rejected extremist ideology. She also highlighted Al-Madioum’s assistance to the government and the numerous letters of support submitted on his behalf, including one from a former U.S. ambassador.
While Judge Montgomery acknowledged these mitigating factors, she ultimately opted for a 10-year sentence, citing the seriousness of the offense and the need to deter others from providing support to terrorist organizations. Al-Madioum has already served over five years in custody and may receive credit for that time.
This case highlights the ongoing threat posed by international terrorism and the importance of holding accountable those who provide material support to such groups. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, along with federal law enforcement partners, remains committed to prosecuting individuals who engage in terrorist activities or support terrorist organizations.
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