Md. Man Indicted By Grand Jury For Conspiring With ISIS

EDGEWOOD, Md. (WJZ) -- He allegedly told a friend he was preparing himself for jihad. Now a Harford County man is indicted by a grand jury for conspiring with ISIS to plot terror attacks here in the U.S.

Meghan McCorkell with more on how he was caught.

Investigators say Mohamed Elshinawy received $8,700 to carry out terror attacks here in the U.S.

Inside an Edgewood home, federal officials say 30-year-old Mohamed Elshinawy was plotting terror attacks here on U.S. soil.

"They would come and go. They were quiet. You never would have known," said Jeffrey Sommerfeld, neighbor.

The FBI tracked Elshinawy for months after he began receiving thousands of dollars believed to be from the Islamic State.

According to court documents, in an online chat, Elshinawy "pledged his allegiance to ISIL" and called himself a "soldier of the state."

"Offered to recruit other people to join ISIL and even discussed obtaining explosives and carrying out a violent act in the United States," said U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein.

The FBI raided Elshinawy's home in October. He was arrested in December.

Federal prosecutors say this case gives an inside look at how terrorist organizations recruit within the United States.

Elshinawy allegedly used social media to interact with terror operatives -- a common recruiting method for ISIS.

"If you're looking for information about terrorist organizations, they're looking for you," said Rosenstein.

It was social media posts that led federal investigators to a 19-year-old Pennsylvania man last month.

Jalil Aziz, accused of spreading ISIS propaganda, was discovered with a backpack loaded with ammunition hiding behind his dryer.

"These lone wolves can crop up undetected until they get to a certain point," said Michael Vesely, terrorism expert.

Elshinawy first popped up on the FBI's radar after someone in Egypt wired him money. Now he faces a judge on four federal charges.

If convicted, Elshinawy faces decades behind bars.

Elshinawy does not have any prior criminal charges on his record.