US Man Admits Funding ISIS, Planned to Kill Jewish Man He Believed Was IDF Soldier

Ammaad Akhtar, a 34-year-old American citizen from Stockton, California, has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to attempting to provide financial support to the terrorist organization ISIS. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the plea, which occurred on Friday. Akhtar was arrested in June 2025 following a covert investigation where he provided money, weapons, and equipment to an individual he believed was an ISIS operative, but who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer. The investigation was conducted by the FBI offices in Sacramento and New York, along with the New York Police Department.

According to investigation documents, in April 2025, Akhtar told his contact that he had observed a Jewish man who regularly attended a synagogue in Stockton on Saturdays. Akhtar claimed the man served in the Israeli military and began following him to discover his residence. He then sought assistance in planning the man's murder, intending to make it appear as a random act of violence unrelated to any ideological motive, by exploiting the area's crime rate. Akhtar mentioned carrying a knife and handgun and stated he was monitoring the man's red pickup truck. However, an FBI check indicated that the vehicle's owner, located in the synagogue's parking lot, was likely not an IDF soldier. No harm came to the individual.

The investigation began in February 2025 after Akhtar contacted an individual operating on behalf of U.S. law enforcement online. He expressed support for ISIS and jihad, spoke of his desire to leave the U.S. to join the organization's fight, and offered to transfer money and weapons. During these communications, Akhtar also made extreme antisemitic statements, discussing the murder of Jews and Christians and expressing a desire to harm those he called infidels. Concurrently with the plan against the Jewish man, Akhtar began discussing the possibility of carrying out a bombing attack at a crowded event using an improvised explosive device. He requested instructions on making explosives and described a plan to infiltrate an event disguised as a participant.

In April 2025, Akhtar made several financial transfers, believing the funds were for ISIS to purchase weapons. After being told the organization had acquired weapons with his money, he expressed satisfaction and pledged further transfers. On June 23, 2025, Akhtar met with an individual he thought was an ISIS member, but who was actually an undercover agent. During the meeting, he handed over clothing, binoculars, $400 in cash, two loaded handguns, and six additional magazines. He subsequently swore allegiance to the terrorist organization. The following day, he was arrested.

Last Friday, Akhtar pleaded guilty to the charge of attempting to provide funding to a foreign terrorist organization. Sentencing is scheduled for February 26, 2027, before Federal Judge Dina Kogan. Akhtar faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.