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.