U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr. announced today the arrest and unsealing of a criminal complaint against 29-year-old Alexander Justin White, a Durham resident accused of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. White was apprehended on December 4, 2024, at Raleigh-Durham International Airport as he prepared to board a flight to Morocco. If convicted, White could face up to 20 years in prison.
According to the complaint, White operated an online account under the name “Sulaiman Al-Amriki,” using it to promote ISIS propaganda, including recruitment and fundraising videos. Federal investigators allege that White actively sought to join ISIS overseas, expressing regret for not traveling earlier when certain routes were less scrutinized.
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Between May and October 2024, White reportedly engaged in financial transactions benefiting refugee camps suspected of funneling money to ISIS affiliates. He allegedly posted messages online expressing his desire to become a “mujahideen” with ISIS and claimed he would rather die than return to the U.S. White’s preparations reportedly included purchasing a combat medical kit and devising a cover story to make his trip appear as a vacation.
On December 4, authorities intercepted White at RDU Airport before he could board a flight to Morocco, believed to be a staging point for joining ISIS affiliates in Africa.
U.S. Attorney Easley emphasized the importance of interagency collaboration in counterterrorism efforts. “We work closely with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to shut down suspected terrorist activities, including American citizens willing to commit violence against our troops,” Easley stated.
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Special Agent in Charge Robert M. DeWitt highlighted the role of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) in combating threats. “Our JTTFs are the nation’s first line of defense against terrorism, leveraging the resources and expertise of federal, state, and local agencies,” DeWitt said.
The investigation was conducted by the Raleigh-based JTTF, which includes the Cary, Raleigh, and Durham Police Departments, the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, and several state and federal agencies. The Morocco General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance also provided critical assistance in the case.
White is charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a violation that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabe Diaz and Jason Kellhofer, along with Trial Attorney David Andrew Sigler from the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section, are prosecuting the case.
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