Twin Cities Man Sentenced For Fighting, Providing Tech Support To ISIS

MINNEAPOLIS — A St. Louis Park man was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison after working as a soldier and technical support professional for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

Abdelhamid Al-Madioum, 27, pleaded guilty on Jan. 13, 2021, to one count of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Based on Al-Madioum's cooperation with the U.S. government since his capture, the prosecutors asked the court to give the defendant credit for providing substantial assistance.

Before being sentenced on Thursday, Al-Madioum thanked the U.S. government for giving him another chance.

Al-Madioum then addressed his parents and sons — ages 7 and 9 — who were rescued from a Syrian orphanage by U.S. authorities and brought to America.

"I know I put you through so much, and I did with the belief that it was my religious duty," Al-Madioum said, fighting back tears. "That's no excuse. My first duty should have been to you."

Al-Madioum is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He was among numerous Minnesotans accused of leaving the U.S. to join the Islamic State group. In 2016, nine Minnesota men were sentenced for trying to join ISIS.

But Al-Madioum is one of at least 11 adults who were brought back to the U.S. from Syria and Iraq to face charges of fighting for the enemy. Al-Madioum self-radicalized online while living in the Twin Cities, investigators said.

In June 2015, Al-Madioum — then 18 — left the U.S. with his family for Casablanca to visit extended family.

While in Morocco, Al-Madioum "surreptitiously" fled to Syria to join and fight for ISIS, authorities said.

Al-Madioum was administratively enrolled in ISIS, received military training from its members, and was assigned to a battalion, according to prosecutors.

Al-Madioum served as a soldier for ISIS until late 2015 when he was injured, authorities said. During a battle, his leg was shattered and his arm had to be amputated.

Following his injury, Al-Madioum worked for ISIS as a personnel database administrator.

Al-Madioum eventually surrendered to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which held him for 18 months until the FBI returned him to the U.S.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.