Durham man who pleaded guilty to supporting, trying to join ISIS sentenced to 8 years in prison

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WTVD) -- A Durham man who was accused of supporting ISIS and had planned to travel to Morocco to join the extremist group now knows his fate.

More than a year after Alexander Justin White, who went by the name Sulaiman Al-Amriki online, entered a guilty plea to conspiring to provide and attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a judge has sentenced him to eight years in federal prison.

"The United States does not tolerate terrorism in any form," U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle said. "Whether keyboard warriors or wannabe fighters, the Department of Justice and FBI will relentlessly bring them to justice. This sentence shows our unwavering commitment to eradicating such evil from our country and the globe."

White was arrested Dec. 4, 2025 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) after he cleared the gate and attempted to board an airplane.

According to DOJ, White made numerous posts supporting ISIS and jihad between May and October of 2024 including videos used to recruit new members and gin up passion for fighting. He also engaged in fundraising efforts while making several posts and reposts referencing well-known ISIS supporters and enablers. White made, or attempted to make, several financial transactions to support terrorist camps and other similar terrorist campaigns to funnel money to ISIS members and their supporters.

The DOJ also say, White openly discussed his desire and intention to travel overseas to join ISIS on Facebook and over other encrypted messaging applications. He indicated that he wanted to be a "Mujahid," which means someone who commits jihad. White expressed a willingness to kill U.S. military members and citizens.

"White planned to abandon his family, betray his country, and fly to Morocco to actively fight with the terrorist group ISIS. Thankfully, the FBI Raleigh-Durham Joint Terrorism Task Force intervened and arrested him at the airport before he could board his flight. It cannot be overstated that ISIS continues to pose a threat to U.S. interests, both domestically and abroad. We must continue to be vigilant to prevent ISIS inspired terrorism" said Reid Davis, the FBI Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.

When he was arrested, White had a University Drive in Durham.

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