NY man charged with attempt to aid ISIS

A man in Rochester, N.Y. was indicted Tuesday on seven counts and accused of attempting to kill members of the U.S. military and provide material support to the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). 

The charges filed against Mufid Elfgeeh, 30, carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. 

{mosads}He was charged with three counts of attempting to provide military support to the terrorist group by making arrangements to help three individuals — two of whom were working with the FBI — travel to Syria to link up with ISIS. Each of those charges carry a 15-year maximum sentence. 

In 2013 and early 2014, he allegedly encouraged the individuals working with the FBI to travel to Syria and made arrangements with a person in Yemen to shepherd them from Yemen to Syria. 

He was also charged with plotting to kill soldiers returning from Iraq. He was charged with one count of possessing two firearms equipped with silencers with intent to commit a violent crime and two counts of possessing unregistered silencers. 

The firearm possession charges carry a minimum of 30 years in prison with a maximum life sentence. 

Elfgeeh was arrested in May after purchasing two handguns with silencers from a confidential source working with the FBI. 

U.S. officials have previously said around a dozen known U.S. citizens have linked up with ISIS, while about 100 U.S. passport holders are in Syria. 

A Colorado women pleaded guilty last week to conspiring to provide military support to ISIS and other al Qaeda affiliates. 

The Justice Department announced a pilot program Tuesday that will work with community leaders to identify and disrupt possible homegrown terrorists in the United States.

“We are focused on breaking up these activities on the front end, before supporters of ISIL can make good on plans to travel to the region or recruit sympathizers to this cause,” Attorney General Eric Holder said, using an alternate acronym for the group.