A 22-year-old Passaic County man has been charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS after federal authorities say he discussed potential attacks in the United States, including a possible attack on a shul near his home in Wayne.

Mohamed Sagha, of Wayne, New Jersey, was charged by complaint with one count of attempting to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham, commonly known as ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization, U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer and Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg announced.

Sagha made his initial appearance in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda D. Wettre and was ordered detained.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sagha participated in one or more online chat groups from approximately December 2025 to June 2026 where ISIS supporters discussed potential attacks on targets inside the United States, including places of worship.

Federal authorities allege that Sagha communicated online with a confidential human source whom he believed to be a member of ISIS. During those conversations, Sagha allegedly expressed interest in assisting another ISIS supporter with an attack on a place of worship.

Prosecutors further allege that Sagha said he was considering carrying out his own attack, possibly targeting a National Guard location or a Jewish place of worship. Authorities said Sagha shared images or videos of both locations with the confidential source and stated that they were near his residence in Wayne.

“As alleged, the defendant sought to support ISIS and expressed interest in violence directed at targets within the United States, including places of worship,” U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer said. “Those who seek to advance the objectives of foreign terrorist organizations should expect a swift and coordinated response from federal law enforcement.”

The allegations come amid heightened security concerns for Jewish institutions across the country, with shuls, schools and community centers remaining on alert following a rise in threats and antisemitic incidents in recent years.

During Sagha’s communications with the confidential source, authorities said the source repeatedly portrayed himself as an ISIS fighter and sent Sagha messages and photographs indicating he was in ISIS territory in Syria. The images allegedly included ISIS flags and what appeared to be an AK-47-style rifle.

Sagha, in turn, allegedly expressed a desire to travel to ISIS territory and made an unsuccessful attempt to do so in early March 2026, according to federal prosecutors.

Authorities also allege that between May 31 and June 2, Sagha discussed the use of a Virtual Private Network, or VPN, with the confidential source for the source and other ISIS fighters referred to as “brothers.” Prosecutors said VPN technology can help users conceal online activity, mask locations and identities, and communicate with greater anonymity.

Sagha ultimately purchased a VPN, sent it to the confidential source — whom he believed to be a terrorist organization member — and explained how to use it, authorities said.

“The defendant allegedly wanted to attack targets in the United States in support of ISIS and its hateful ideology, but the FBI detected and put a stop to his violent plans,” said Donald Holstead, assistant director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and a term of life of supervised release.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)