Minneapolis Man Sentenced to 8.5 Years for Attempting to Support ISIS
Published: April 23rd 2026
MINNEAPOLIS MN: — A 23-year-old Minneapolis man has been sentenced in federal court to more than eight years in prison for attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to federal authorities.
Abdisatar Ahmed Hassan was sentenced April 22, 2026, in U.S. District Court to 102 months (approximately 8.5 years) in prison, followed by 15 years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Hassan began consuming and sharing propaganda from the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in at least 2024. He reposted ISIS-related articles and videos on social media, downloaded materials from ISIS media outlets, and obtained manuals related to explosives, firearms, and sniper training.
Court records state Hassan also communicated online with individuals believed to be affiliated with ISIS, including contacts operating in Somalia. In November 2024, he sought assistance in reaching ISIS-controlled areas and referred to individuals he was communicating with as “commander” and “uncle,” while discussing a “battlefield” in Somalia.
Prosecutors said Hassan took steps to leave the United States in December 2024, quitting his job, liquidating his savings, and purchasing a one-way airline ticket from Minneapolis to Somalia. He was first stopped from traveling due to incomplete documentation, but later attempted the trip again, flying from Minneapolis to Chicago before being intercepted by Customs and Border Protection agents.
During that encounter, authorities found personal documents in his possession. According to the complaint, Hassan initially denied his intentions but later admitted to supporting ISIS ideology and seeking to join the group.
After returning to Minnesota, investigators say Hassan continued to post ISIS-related content online, including praise for a January 1, 2025, ISIS-inspired attack in New Orleans that killed 14 people. He also created and shared videos displaying an ISIS flag and a knife while driving.
Hassan was arrested on February 27, 2025. A federal grand jury later indicted him on one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, in violation of federal law. He pleaded guilty to the charge on September 29, 2025.
The case was investigated by the FBI, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Customs and Border Protection, and the New York Police Department.
