2 Wis. men charged with trying to join ISIS

by Rafael Bernal - 10/15/16 11:13 AM ET

Two men from Wisconsin were charged in federal court Friday with trying to go to Syria to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Jason Michael Ludke, 35, and Yosvany Padilla-Conde, 30, were arrested in Texas on Oct. 5, as they made their way to Mexico to allegedly try to book passage to Syria, the Associated Press reported.

{mosads}Ludke was charged Wednesday in a Texas court with attempting to support a foreign terrorist organization. Padilla-Conde is due to make his first court appearance Monday under charges of aiding and abetting Ludke.

The two Milwaukee men allegedly told an undercover FBI agent on social media last month that they planned to join the terrorist organization.

According to the charges, Ludke said he had converted to Islam in 2003 and wanted to live under Sharia law and reach paradise. Ludke also said Padilla-Conde wanted to reach paradise.

Ludke and Padilla-Conde headed to Mexico after the FBI agent told them they could get passports from Arab countries there.

Both men allegedly told police they had left Wisconsin because they could no longer afford their rent. Padilla-Conde said he had tried to talk Ludke out of waging jihad.

The Associated Press reported that no public defenders were listed for them in Texas, and Ludke appeared in court without a lawyer Wednesday.

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