A California man arrested for allegedly plotting an ISIS-linked attack against Special Forces operatives has claimed through his attorney he was a normal man looking to become a civil engineer. Eli…
against Special Forces operatives has claimed through his attorney he was a normal man looking to become a civil engineer. Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, of Porterville, California , was arrested along with co-defendants Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, of Leawood, Kansas, and Bereen Dzayee, 25, of Lakeside near San Diego , following a lengthy FBI investigation into alleged extremist activity spanning more than a year.
US DIstrict Court, Kansas According to a federal criminal complaint filed in Kansas, the trio allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS, explored providing material support, and communicated with what they believed was a jihadist. Prosecutors allege the conversations included repeated references to violence and operational planning, including discussions about traveling overseasand acquiring weapons such as drones, grenades, and rocket-propelled grenades for possible use against US Special Forces personnel.
In one exchange cited in the complaint, Ghafoor allegedly asked the undercover source, “How many do you hope to kill? ”Bereen Dzayee in a Navy sailor uniform. Authorities say the case began in May 2025 after a confidential human source encountered the group in an online forum. Investigators later tracked communications in which the suspects allegedly believed they were speaking with an active ISIS contact, as the dialogue escalated into expressions of allegiance and discussions tied to extremist violence.
Law enforcement officials emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, which center on support for a foreign terrorist organization and threats against US military personnel. Shamsaldeen’s attorney, Peter Jones, who was recently appointed to the case, said he has had limited contact with his client but pushed back on the accusations based on what he knows so far. He described the 21-year-old as a recent graduate of Porterville Community College with plans to transfer to Fresno State to study civil engineering.
Ghafoor and Dzayee talked about their money-making scheme and offered to send money via cryptocurrency. All three defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization. US DIstrict Court, KansasDzayee told the CHS that he was at an ATM and attempting to send funds. Ghafoor and Dzayee talked about their money-making scheme and offered to send money via cryptocurrency.
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