Seattle Man Pleads Guilty For Allegedly Supporting ISIS Terrorists

Planned to Join ISIS to commit domestic, international terrorism

A mural bears the logo of the ISIS terrorist group. Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP via Getty Images

An American citizen from Seattle who allegedly tried to join the ISIS terrorist group, and threatened to commit acts of violence against the United States or in the Middle East, has pleaded guilty in the city’s District Court for attempting to provide terrorists with material support.

Based on his plea agreement, Elvin Hunter Bgorn Williams, 21, had been claiming to family members that he was part of ISIS since November 2020. He posted a video on Facebook in which he sweared an oath of loyalty to an ISIS leader, according to a press release by the Justice Department.

Williams was arrested on May 28, 2021, at the departure gate of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on terrorism-related criminal charges while attempting to travel to Egypt through Amsterdam.

The FBI had begun to take notice of Williams for the last 5 years following reports by school administrators who claimed that Williams was telling everyone about wanting to join ISIS. He also justified the 2017 terror attack on Ariana Grande’s concert in UK by saying that the fatal incident happened because of the way the singer dressed.

At the time, Williams was suspended from social media for his pro-ISIS posts. His mother also cut off the internet at home to prevent him from accessing extremist websites.

Some members from a mosque in Seattle attempted to deradicalize him through providing him with money for college tuition as well as a laptop and cell phone. However, such attempts failed. One member saw Williams using the phone to watch extremist videos and subsequently reported him to the FBI.

The agency then used informants who posed as ISIS recruiters to message Williams, which revealed more information about his extremist plans, including the desire to kill people.

Williams eventually obtained a passport in May 2021 after saving enough money in the first half of the year. He also raised funds for travel by pawning a laptop. After getting the passport, Williams booked flight tickets with the aim of joining ISIS.

“As alleged, Williams was determined to support ISIS either by traveling overseas to join and fight with the terrorist organization, or by conducting an attack here in the United States,” Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the Justice Department’s National Security Division had said in a June 2021 press release.

“The FBI was just as determined to stop him, and he was intercepted as he tried to make his way abroad.”

According to the plea agreement, which contains statements Williams made about his intentions, he had “no problem with killing,” hoped to behead people, and desired martyrdom.

Williams pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to an organization that was designated as a foreign terrorist entity. His sentencing will be held on June 14. If convicted, Williams faces a potential prison term of 20 years.