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FBI Arrests Md. Man Suspected Of Pledging Allegiance To ISIL

EDGEWOOD, Md. (WJZ) -- A Maryland man is behind bars after the feds say he pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State.

Investigators say Mohamed Elshinawy accepted money from the terrorist organization in exchange for plotting attacks here in the U.S.

Meghan McCorkell has the newly released details.

The Harford County man first popped up on the feds' radar after he was wired $1,000 through Western Union from someone in Egypt.

Behind the doors of an Edgewood, Maryland home, federal investigators say a dangerous plot was potentially taking place.

"He allegedly made clear his intention to join with ISIL and to carry out their objectives in the United States," said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

Charging documents accuse 30-year-old Mohamed Elshinawy of accepting money from the Islamic State of Iraq--the terrorist organization known as ISIL.

According to an affidavit, obtained by WJZ, Elshinawy told a friend he "pledged his allegiance to ISIL" and called himself a "soldier of the state."

The feds say Elshinawy used burner phones and social media to contact terror operatives.

"They paid him in return for what they anticipated would be terrorist acts in the United States," said Rosenstein.

Some $8,700 funneled through PayPal, Western Union and eBay.

Documents show in March he told a friend he was "preparing himself for jihad and taking extreme security measures."

While he didn't give specifics, he said he had many targets and desired to be a martyr.

The FBI first interviewed Elshinawy in July. They searched his Harford County home in October.

No one answered the door Monday night at that home.

"We had seen the FBI agents on Friday come by," said Jeff Sommerfeld, neighbor.

Neighbors say they saw agents bring evidence out of the house.

"They came out with two boxes, about like this. You couldn't see what was in it, but it was something in there," Sommerfeld said.

Now they wonder exactly what went on inside.

Elshinawy could face up to 30 years behind bars.

Elshinawy does not have any prior criminal charges in Maryland, just traffic complaints.

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