GOOSE CREEK, S.C. – A Goose Creek man with alleged links to ISIS has been indicted on charges he lied during his citizenship process, misled the FBI, and destroyed evidence, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday.
Ala Aldeen Alshaikh, 31, a Sudanese national, was arrested by federal agents in Charleston after a grand jury returned a four-count indictment accusing him of hiding his allegiance to the Islamic State terror group.
Authorities say Alshaikh applied for U.S. citizenship in September 2021 — but during his immigration interview, he denied ever having ties to a terrorist organization. In reality, prosecutors allege, just weeks earlier he had pledged allegiance to ISIS online and bragged about possible attacks, including chatter about a U.S. embassy.
The indictment claims Alshaikh doubled down on the lie a year later, signing paperwork again denying terror connections as he prepared for his naturalization ceremony.
Federal prosecutors also say Alshaikh, who has a background in the aviation industry, lied to an FBI agent in January 2025, denying he’d ever offered to share his skills with anyone. But investigators allege he secretly offered his aviation know-how to a militant group called the Al-Bara Ibn Malik Brigade.
Once he realized he was under investigation, prosecutors say Alshaikh tried to wipe incriminating online conversations.
He now faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted. Alshaikh was arraigned Wednesday morning, with a detention hearing set for Sept. 19 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker.
📣 STAY IN THE LOOP 📣
📰 Sign Up for Berkeley County, SC Newsletter ⬅️
The case is being handled by the FBI’s Columbia Joint Terrorism Task Force, along with federal prosecutors and the Justice Department’s Counterterrorism Section.
Officials stressed that the charges are accusations only, and Alshaikh is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
