A 34-year-old California man pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group (ISIS), including sending money and weapons to people he believed were members of the terrorist organization, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Ammaad Akhtar, a U.S. citizen, admitted that he attempted to support ISIS between February and June 2025. Court documents show he communicated online with an undercover officer posing as an ISIS member, expressing support for the group and jihad and discussing plans to travel overseas to fight for ISIS.
In April 2025, Akhtar sent money to the undercover officer on multiple occasions. After several payments, the officer told him ISIS had obtained guns using the funds. Akhtar responded by expressing support and saying he would send more money.
Akhtar also discussed carrying out violent attacks, including targeting a specific individual and using homemade explosives at a populated event. He asked for instructions on how to build an explosive device.
On June 23, 2025, Akhtar met with another undercover agent he believed was an ISIS associate. He handed over clothing, binoculars, $400 in cash, 2 loaded guns and 6 additional magazines before pledging loyalty to ISIS.
Akhtar is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 26, 2027. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The final sentence will be determined by a federal judge after considering sentencing guidelines and other factors.
The FBI field offices in New York and Sacramento and the New York City Police Department investigated the case.
Stockton resident Ammaad Akhtar pleaded guilty today to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. According to court documents, Akhtar, who is a U.S. citizen, repeatedly attempted to provide funds, weapons, and equipment to ISIS while communicating with an undercover officer he believed was a member of the terrorist organization. During these exchanges, he voiced support for ISIS, discussed plans for violent attacks, sought instructions for making explosive devices, and made multiple financial contributions that he was told were used to purchase firearms. Akhtar also met with an undercover agent he thought was an ISIS associate and provided clothing, binoculars, cash, two loaded guns, and additional magazines before pledging loyalty to ISIS. To read more about this #FBISacramento, @NewYorkFBI and New York City Police Department investigation, visit https://t.co/IanGeumyKm. @NYPDnews
— FBI Sacramento (@FBISacramento) October 30, 2026