Note that in his statement, Elfgeeh blames the U.S. for driving him into the arms of the Islamic State. It is always thus: for Islamic supremacists, any wrongdoing they may do is always the Infidel’s fault.
“Admitted terrorist sympathizer sentenced for attempting to recruit for ISIL,” by Dave Greber and Mark Belcher, News 4, March 17, 2016 (thanks to Patrick):
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WIVB) — An admitted terrorist sympathizer will spend decades of his life behind bars after pleading guilty and being sentenced for attempting to recruit for a dangerous terrorist organization.
Officials say a judge sentenced Mufid Elfgeeh to 22 and a half years behind bars and 27 years of post-release supervision on Thursday when he appeared in court for sentencing. Elfgeeh, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Yemen, formerly operated a business in Rochester.
Elfgeeh is the first ISIL recruiter successfully prosecuted in the United States, and possibly the world, according to Buffalo-based U.S. Attorney William Hochul. Elfgeeh, 32, admitted he attempted to provide material support to ISIL by attempting to recruit people and raise funds for the group.
Officials say he received the longest prison sentence for a terrorism suspect who’s been convicted of supporting ISIL.
“ISIL’s horrific violence is waged against men, women and children, as well as against Muslims and non-Muslims alike,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Carlin, said. “The National Security Division will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute anyone who seeks to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist organization.”
In December, Elfgeeh admitted to two counts of providing material support for a known terrorist organization, telling the court he tried to recruit two people in 2013 and 2014 to join ISIL fighters in Syria.
Officials say they’re glad law enforcement moved in to arrest Elfgeeh when they did. U.S. District Court Judge Elizabeth Wolford said Elfgeeh was growing increasingly aggressive, and had bought two guns equipped with silencers.
“You were clearly on a path to destruction, and you engaged in some very dangerous activity,” she said.
“I don’t know if we’d all be here,” she added after lauding the FBI’s efforts. “Some real tragedies could’ve occurred if you weren’t arrested here.”
Elfgeeh’s attorney Mark Hosken read a statement prepared by his client to the court. In it, Elfgeeh recounted a life that brought him to the Brooklyn at age 13. His father returned to Yemen after a year, leaving the 14-year-old to fend for himself. He said that year he was slashed across the face with a box cutter during a robbery in a New York subway, and that changed his life forever.
Elfgeeh said he eventually dropped out of high school, and began paying attention more to world politics. He moved for years, working at various gas stations and convenience stores across the country, according to Hosken, before settling in Rochester in 2012 because of its large Yemen population.
Elfgeeh told the court he started noticing the atrocities in Syria, and said the U.S. government did little to help Muslims under attack by the Assad regime. That’s when he grew attached to ISIL, because he said they were one of the first groups to help Syrian Muslims.
But he said violent acts by ISIL during the past few years turned him off, writing in his statement, “I no longer support ISIL. I want to avoid being misguided as I was in the past.”…

Richard Paulsen says
Good that he was caught before anything happened. Good job. Ought to be more education in schools, working places , on TV and Radio about the dangers with teachings not respecting democrazy, human values, the UN charter, the U.S.A., Europe and all the west.
Must be vigilant and endlessly. Never relaxing thinking the danger is over. When relaxing the danger is as worse.
Lots got to be changed in the world before being peaceful. Probably it never will.
Jay Boo says
At least he will be away for 22 years behind bars.
The only way such a dangerous terrorist could be released now is with a Presidential Pardon.
That would never happen with tough on terror Obama in charge. (sarc)
Shane says
The problem is that our prison system is a recruiting center for Islamic jihad. Many Black criminals convert to Islam while in prison and they are filled with hatred for Whites and America.
خَليفة says
There should be prison classes about all religions – teach the truth of how Islam views black things – black dog is a devil, the anti-Christ is black, black people are worthy to be slaves, Mohammed was not black and had black slaves, a white slave is worth 2 black ones — all part of Islamic ideology.
quotha raven says
Hmmm, sounds like a worthy candidate for a pardon to me, non?(sarc/off) We’ll see, but I doubt this dude will spend 20+ years in the can.
Cheers!
quotha raven
Angemon says
Meaning he wasn’t trying to fit in America.
“Yes, Your Honor, I noticed atrocities against Syrian muslims. So I decided to support one of the first groups to help Syrian muslims: ISIS, a terrorist organization that committed atrocities against Syrian muslims”.
Why was it incumbent on the US government to stand up for muslims in Syria? Why wasn’t that incumbent on, for example, muslims in Syria? Or muslims in the Middle East? Remember last time a US government told a muslim ruler “yeah, you’re not treating your people well, so you’re done with you”? BAM! Iranian revolution – “Death to America! Death to Israel!”
This makes no sense. He tried to recruit people in 2014. Do not trust his crocodile tears – he may very well be done with ISIS but there’s no evidence he’s done with the ideology behind ISIS, an ideology that has women stoned for being raped, has limbs chopped off for theft and death for apostasy: islam.
Angemon says
No, you know what? Have his mugshot sent to police stations in areas where he lived and compared with descriptions of suspects of unsolved crimes.
quotha raven says
to Angemon – Like I said, a very deserving candidate for a full pardon! (I’m settling in to the Through the Looking Glass environment we now enjoy, and making a comment like this doesn’t even bring on agita any more!)
Cheers!
quotha raven
unbeliever1 says
“Elfgeeh told the court he started noticing the atrocities in Syria.” He wanted to replace Assad with ISIS!
What can be more brutal than what ISIS is doing there?
unbeliever1 says
Why would he support ISIS to help his Muslim brothers when Obama and others keep telling us that ISIS is not Islamic and is not supported by Muslims?