“I want to die in the cause of Allah fighting the kuffar [infidels],” Akhtar said, according to the Justice Department.
By United with Israel Staff
A California man who allegedly plotted to kill a Jewish man he believed was an IDF soldier pleaded guilty Friday to attempting to provide material support to ISIS, the US Justice Department announced.
Ammaad Akhtar, 34, of Stockton, California, admitted attempting to provide the terrorist organization with money, firearms and other equipment between February and June 2025.
Federal court documents reveal that Akhtar’s plans for violence included targeting a Jewish man whom he believed had served in the Israel Defense Forces.
In April 2025, Akhtar told an undercover online persona whom he believed to be associated with ISIS that he had driven past a synagogue and spotted a man he had previously seen there on Saturdays.
Akhtar allegedly followed the man in an attempt to determine where he lived and asked what he could do to “handle” him once he located his home.
He also discussed killing the man somewhere away from his home in an effort to make the murder appear to be a random act of violence, according to the criminal complaint.
Akhtar believed the Jewish man was or had been an IDF soldier. However, a subsequent FBI investigation determined that the man did not appear to have served in the IDF.
The alleged plot was part of a broader series of plans and efforts by Akhtar to support ISIS and carry out violence.
Beginning in February 2025, Akhtar communicated online with an undercover officer whom he believed was an ISIS member. He expressed support for ISIS and jihad, discussed traveling overseas to join and fight for the terrorist organization and offered to send it guns and money.
Akhtar subsequently sent money on multiple occasions. After the undercover officer told him that ISIS had obtained several guns using money he provided, Akhtar responded, “May Allah destroy our enemies,” and promised to send additional funds.
He also expressed his desire to die while fighting non-Muslims.
“I want to die in the cause of Allah fighting the kuffar [infidels],” Akhtar said, according to the Justice Department.
His plans eventually expanded to a possible mass-casualty attack.
Akhtar asked for instructions on constructing a homemade explosive device that could be used at a populated event, telling the undercover contact that he wanted “to make a boom.”
On June 23, 2025, Akhtar met in person with another individual whom he believed was associated with ISIS but who was actually an undercover agent.
Akhtar handed the agent clothing, binoculars, $400 in cash, two loaded firearms and six additional magazines before swearing bayat, or a pledge of allegiance, to ISIS.
He was arrested the following day.
Akhtar pleaded guilty Friday to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 26, 2027, and faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s New York and Sacramento field offices and the New York City Police Department.
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