A Durham resident, Alexander Justin White, 29, has entered a guilty plea for charges related to conspiring to provide material support to the terrorist organization ISIS. Arrested before he could embark on a planned journey to Morocco, White was intending to join the ranks of ISIS, as detailed by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The conviction carries with it a sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment.
White's arrest on December 4, 2024, was a direct consequence of the diligent efforts of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), an entity praised for working tirelessly to protect communities by Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar. In a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Bubar asserted, "This is just one example of how the JTTF’s tireless work protects our communities."
Between May and October 2024, White actively supported ISIS through social media, using his platform to distribute recruitment videos and other propaganda materials that espouse the extremist group's ideologies. The U.S. Attorney's office also alleges that White was involved in financial activities believed to channel funds to ISIS affiliates and openly communicated his intentions to travel abroad and join the terrorist group with individuals on Facebook and encrypted messaging apps.
Robert M. DeWitt, the FBI Special Agent in Charge of North Carolina, highlighted the seriousness of the situation, stating that White was willing to abandon his life in the U.S. to support ISIS. "White planned to leave his family, North Carolina, and ultimately his country and fly to Morocco, hoping to actively fight with ISIS. Thanks to the long and countless hours, days, and months, worked by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), Mr. White was literally stopped in his tracks," DeWitt expressed, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The efforts of the Raleigh-based JTTF, which consists of investigators, analysts, and personnel from various U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies, played a key role in preventing White's planned departure. Around 200 JTTFs are currently active across the country. The investigation is ongoing, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabriel Diaz, Jason Kellhofer, and Andrew Sigler from the National Security Division Counterterrorism Section overseeing the prosecution.
