Undercover operation leads to arrest of Maryland man trying to work with ISIS

BALTIMORE — A 21-year-old Maryland man is in custody after an undercover operation revealed he was trying to work with a terrorist group. He even spoke with an undercover officer about a plot to carry out a terrorist attack against supporters of Israel in the United States. 

According to court documents from the United States Justice Department, Michael Sam Teekaye Jr. of Hanover has been charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS. He was arrested on Monday and has been detained since then. 

Documents say Teekaye had multiple conversations with an undercover officer between March and April of 2023. In the course of those conversations, he told the officer that he wanted to travel to Africa to join and fight for ISIS. He also told the officer that his "plan B" was to carry out an attack in the United States against people who support Israel.

On three occasions in May and June 2024, Teekaye purchased ammunition and range time at a shooting range in Severn, Maryland, which he later told the undercover officer was partly in order to "train."

Then, documents say in July 2024, Teekaye tried to buy a Kalishnikov rifle, but the purchase was denied because Teekaye was on probation.

In later conversations with the undercover officer between August and October 2024, Teekaye said he was in contact with a Somali ISIS fighter about his plans to travel there to join ISIS. Teekaye explained that he would fly first to Turkey, then travel to Ethiopia and cross the border into Somalia. Teekaye sent the officer screenshots of an Ethiopian e-Visa he had obtained from the ISIS fighter. He also sent screenshots of his itinerary that showed him departing from Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) on Oct. 14. 

On Oct. 11, the officer asked if Teekaye was sure he wanted to join ISIS. Teekaye responded, “I am sure I did a lot of research and had to accept something’s [sic] that they are the only group that has the most true and sincere intentions,” according to the documents. 

FBI agents arrested Teekaye on Oct. 14 at BWI. After being advised of his right to remain silent, Teekaye told the arresting officers, "I’ll just get out in 20 years and do something here. Okay? Okay? You will never stop me. Jihad will never stop . . . I’ll be like 40 when I get out, then I’ll just do it. I don’t care. You will never stop me."