Durham Resident Accused of Planning ISIS Journey to Morocco, Federal Prosecutors Reveal

A Durham resident was taken into custody by federal officials for backing ISIS and subsequently trying to affiliate with the organization, according to court documents released on Tuesday.

As per federal prosecutors, 29-year-old Alexander Justin White, who was known online as Sulaiman Al-Amriki, allegedly began expressing his support for ISIS on his Facebook profile between May and October.

Documents submitted by the prosecution also assert that White, who resided on University Drive in Durham, shared a video in July 2024 on his Facebook page that “glorified what is believed to be ISIS.” Additionally, White provided an undercover federal agent with a screenshot of a pro-ISIS EMA channel, suggesting it was raising funds for captured ISIS members and their families.

The documents further state that White openly communicated his aspiration to travel abroad and associate with ISIS to multiple individuals on Facebook, also noting that he interacted with a user claiming to be from Morocco who could assist him in joining the organization between June and August 2024.

Court records indicate that White purchased several firearms, including handguns and rifles, five years prior and practiced with some of them, as evidenced by photos in the complaint.

In additional discussions with the undercover agent, White talked about further travel plans, including arrangements for his belongings and necessary gear for personal usage during his time abroad, such as individual combat medical kits intended for White’s use once he joined ISIS.

Subsequently, White recorded a video of himself expressing his allegiance to ISIS and sent it to what he believed to be a commander in the group.

On September 24, prosecutors claim that White communicated with a “confidential human source (CHS)” from the FBI who was posing as a spokesperson for an ISIS commander.

When questioned about his certainty in joining the group, White affirmed that he was indeed serious and felt it was suitable for him, but expressed concerns about communicating with the wrong individuals and landing in trouble.

The undercover agent then inquired if White would be willing to kill members of the U.S. Military or U.S. citizens, to which White replied, “If it was a family member, I would still resist them… There is no love for homeland among U.S. troops or any of this.”

Later, investigators verified that White had booked flights from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Paris and Rabat, Morocco, on December 4, and planned to return to RDU on December 18.

In the complaint, federal officials noted that White likely acquired a round-trip ticket to evade suspicion, which is a common tactic among Islamic extremists.

FBI agents apprehended White at 7:50 p.m. on December 4 after he passed through the gate and attempted to board the aircraft.

White faces charges of conspiring to provide and attempting to furnish material support and resources to ISIS.