A southwest suburban man who was arrested at O’Hare International Airport in October was formally indicted Thursday for allegedly trying to help the terrorist group ISIS.
A federal grand jury indicted Mohammed Hamzah Khan, 19, of Bolingbrook on one count of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist group, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Khan was arrested at O’Hare on Oct. 4 while trying to board an Austrian Airlines flight to Istanbul, via Vienna, with the intention of joining ISIS, prosecutors said at the time.
Thursday’s indictment formalizes a charge first filed against Khan in a criminal complaint after his arrest, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
While Khan was initially being detained at the airport, agents searched his home and allegedly found drawings of the ISIS flag, prosecutors said. Those drawings also indicated Khan planned to travel on to Syria or Iraq, the feds say. One allegedly had the words, “Come to Jihad.”
