North Carolina Man Sentenced for Attempting to Join ISIS
A North Carolina resident received an eight-year federal prison sentence for planning to abandon the United States and join ISIS, according to a Monday announcement from the Department of Justice. The man, Alexander Justin White, aged 30, hailing from Durham, was found guilty of conspiring and attempting to offer material support to ISIS, identified as a foreign terrorist organization.
Airport Arrest
White’s arrest occurred at an airport while he was trying to board a flight to North Africa. He had assembled equipment intended for use overseas. Authorities intervened at the airport, preventing him from leaving the country. Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina, stated that White had intended to abandon his family and country to fight with ISIS in Morocco.
White had also been active online, promoting ISIS ideology, and he engaged in activities such as posting videos supporting jihad and attempting to fund terrorist activities. Communication through social media and encrypted platforms revealed his intentions to become a ‘mujahid’ and his willingness to carry out violent acts against military personnel and civilians.
ISIS Background
ISIS, recognized as the Islamic State, ISIL, or Daesh, formed from insurgent movements in Iraq post-2003. It emerged from al-Qaeda’s Iraqi branch, expanding due to regional instability. By 2014, ISIS declared a self-proclaimed ‘caliphate,’ seizing large parts of Iraq and Syria. Major cities like Mosul and Raqqa were under its control, and it governed people under strict Islamic law during its peak.
Known for brutality, ISIS orchestrated and inspired attacks outside the Middle East. Despite losing most territorial control by 2019, the group still operates as an insurgent network with global affiliates.
Ongoing Threats
Officials warn of ISIS’s continuous attempts to inspire attacks beyond active conflict zones, including the U.S. Propaganda channels linked to the group called for ‘lone wolf’ attacks at events like the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in North America.
The tactic of independent action has connections to several past extremist-inspired attacks. Officials stress the persistent risk ISIS poses despite territorial losses. Cases like White’s highlight concerns about online radicalization leading to attempted actions.
U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle emphasized the nation’s zero tolerance for terrorism. Both the Department of Justice and FBI are dedicated to prosecuting all involved in supporting terrorist activities, regardless of their role.
The FBI’s Raleigh-based Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated White’s case, coordinating federal, state, and local agencies. Their efforts thwarted his plans to join ISIS before he left the U.S. Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II sentenced White, reflecting the seriousness of attempting to support terrorist groups, even if stopped before any combat involvement.