Maryland Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Attempting to Support ISIS

A Maryland man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release for his attempt to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist organization ISIS. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced the sentence for Michael Sam Teekaye, Jr., 22, who had previously pleaded guilty to the charges.

According to court documents, Teekaye communicated his intentions to an undercover officer between March and April of 2023. He expressed a desire to travel to Africa to join ISIS as a fighter. Teekaye also outlined a secondary plan to carry out an attack within the United States, targeting Jewish individuals and those who support Israel. His alleged preparations included researching local buildings that supported Israel and contemplating methods to attack key members or individuals associated with these organizations.

The prosecution details that Teekaye took several steps to further his alleged plans. Between May and June of 2024, he purchased ammunition and utilized a shooting range in Severn, Maryland, which he later described to the undercover officer as part of his training. In July of the same year, Teekaye attempted to purchase a 9mm assault rifle, but the transaction was denied due to his probation status from a previous state criminal case. Further communications between August and October 2024 revealed Teekaye had been in contact with a Somali ISIS operative regarding his travel aspirations. He outlined a route that would take him through Turkey and Ethiopia before entering Somalia. During this period, he shared screenshots of an Ethiopian e-Visa obtained through the operative and later, of airline tickets and a travel itinerary.

Teekaye’s planned departure was from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) on October 14, 2024, with a flight to Istanbul, Turkey, including a layover in London. Leading up to his arrest, on October 10, Teekaye sent the undercover officer a photograph of himself wearing a mask and holding a machete, with the accompanying message, “Victory or shahada… either you do it here or over there or both.” When questioned about his commitment on October 11, Teekaye affirmed his resolve, citing extensive research and his belief in ISIS’s “true and sincere intentions.” On October 14, Teekaye was arrested by FBI agents at BWI Airport after he had checked in for his flight and passed through security.

Following his arrest, Teekaye made statements indicating his intent to carry out attacks in the U.S. upon his release from prison, stating, “I’m just gonna get out in 20 years and I’m just gonna do it here. Okay? It will never stop. Jihad will never stop.” He also referenced an incident where ISIS prison inmates killed guards, and threatened to harm a guard in prison. During these statements, Teekaye exhibited physical aggression towards an arresting agent, kicking and spitting on him. A subsequent search of his cell phone revealed searches for specific Jewish and Israeli individuals and organizations in Howard County, as well as inquiries into “how to break into a home” and “how to escape murder.” A rabbi, who was among the individuals Teekaye researched, provided a victim-impact statement to the court detailing the profound effect of Teekaye’s actions on him and the broader Jewish community.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland

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