American Convicted After Planning to ‘Betray His Country' and Join ISIS

A North Carolina man who authorities say planned to abandon his life in the United States and join ISIS has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison, the Department of Justice announced Monday.

Alexander Justin White, 30, of Durham, was convicted of conspiring to provide-and attempting to provide-material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Prosecutors said he was arrested as he attempted to travel overseas to join the group and fight in territory it once controlled.

White's case underscores continuing concerns among U.S. officials about people radicalized online who attempt to support extremist groups abroad.

Airport Arrest

White was arrested at an airport after purchasing a flight to North Africa and assembling equipment intended for use overseas. According to prosecutors, authorities intervened as he attempted to board the plane, preventing him from leaving the country.

"White planned to abandon his family, betray his country, and fly to Morocco to actively fight with the terrorist group ISIS," said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina, in a statement.

Authorities said White had been active online promoting ISIS ideology in the months before his arrest. Between May and October 2024, he posted and shared videos supporting jihad and encouraging recruitment, according to the Justice Department. He also attempted to raise or transfer money to support terrorist activity and communicated over social media and encrypted messaging platforms about his plans.

In those conversations, prosecutors said, White expressed a desire to become a "mujahid," or someone engaged in jihad, and indicated a willingness to carry out violence, including against U.S. military members and civilians.

ISIS History

ISIS, also known as the Islamic State, ISIL or Daesh, is a transnational jihadist militant group that emerged from insurgent movements in Iraq following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. It developed from an offshoot of al-Qaeda in Iraq and expanded amid instability in Iraq and Syria.

In 2014, the group declared a self-proclaimed "caliphate," claiming authority over Muslims worldwide and seizing large parts of Iraq and Syria. At its height, ISIS controlled major cities including Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria and governed millions of people under a strict interpretation of Islamic law.

ISIS became widely known for its brutality and for orchestrating or inspiring attacks beyond the Middle East. Although it lost most of its territorial control by 2019 following a U.S.-led military campaign and operations by regional forces, the group continues to operate as an insurgent network and maintain affiliates globally.

ISIS Threat in US

Recent warnings from officials and analysts highlight the group's continued efforts to inspire attacks beyond conflict zones, including in the United States. ISIS-linked propaganda channels called for "lone wolf" attacks targeting large gatherings tied to the 2026 World Cup, which is being hosted across cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

The calls did not specify coordinated plots but urged individuals to act independently, a tactic that has been linked to several past attacks inspired by extremist groups. Security officials have said such messaging underscores the ongoing risk posed by ISIS despite its territorial defeat.

The warnings mirror concerns raised in cases like White's, where individuals are accused of being influenced by online propaganda and attempting to translate that support into action.

Officials noted on Monday that the threat posed by ISIS has not fully disappeared.

"The United States does not tolerate terrorism in any form," U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said in a statement. "Whether keyboard warriors or wannabe fighters, the Department of Justice and FBI will relentlessly bring them to justice."

The investigation into White was carried out by the FBI's Raleigh-based Joint Terrorism Task Force, which brings together federal, state and local agencies to track and disrupt potential threats. In this case, authorities said the coordinated effort enabled investigators to monitor White's activity and intervene before he could leave the country.

White was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. Officials said the eight-year sentence reflects the seriousness of attempting to support a terrorist organization, even if the plan was stopped before he could join ISIS or take part in combat.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gray R. Thomas

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 9:05 AM.