Judge Detains Philadelphia Woman Accused of Attempting to Join ISIS

A Philadelphia woman accused of attempting to join the Middle East terrorist group ISIS has been ordered to remain in federal prison until her trial.

Federal Judge Marilyn Heffley at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania agreed with prosecutors that Keonna Thomas, 30, represented a credible flight risk if released on bail, according to court documents.

In her memo supporting the motion, Heffley writes that Thomas’ social media postings in support of ISIS, purchase of an airline ticket, application for a passport and unemployment demonstrated the likelihood that she would flee the country. The possibility of facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted also contributed to Heffley’s reasoning that Thomas would attempt to leave.

Tweeted threats made by one of Thomas’ online associates also showed that the mother of two represented an imminent threat to the public. According to court documents, one of Thomas’ contacts posted online, “No prison door will be able to stand against the force...” along with images of a truck and explosion.

Thomas, aka Fatayat Al Khilafah, of Philadelphia, was charged last week by the Department of Justice with knowingly attempting to provide material support and resources ISIS. The U.S. attorney says that Thomas intended to travel overseas in order to join, fight with, and martyr herself on behalf of ISIS.

According to the complaint, Thomas posted on Twitter as YoungLionness such statements including: “If we truly knew the realities . . . we all would be rushing to join our brothers in the front lines pray ALLAH accept us as shuhada [martyrs].”

Allegations say that Thomas applied for a U.S. Passport for the first time and engaged in electronic communications with an ISIS fighter in Syria, who asked Thomas if she wanted to be a part of a martyrdom operation.

Thomas allegedly responded by stating, “that would be amazing….a girl can only wish.” Thomas also allegedly conducted online research into various indirect travel routes to Turkey, and allegedly purchased an electronic visa to Turkey. The complaint says that Thomas purchase airline tickets on March 26 to fly to Spain on March 29.

According to the motion for pretrial detention filed by U.S. attorney Jennifer Williams, Thomas never owned a passport or traveled outside the United States. She allegedly applied for travel documents in February and March and conducted online research into buses from Barcelona, Spain, to Istanbul, Turkey. Williams argues that Turkey has become the primary point of entry for people trying to get into Syria, and is recommended by ISIS.

A message has been left with Thomas’ federal public defender, James McHugh, seeking comment on the case. He told the judge that Thomas has no previous criminal record and lives at home with two young daughters, a mother, grandmother and brother, representing close ties that would keep her in the community.

Williams countered that the relationship with her family was loose, and Thomas planned to leave her daughters behind when she fled the country, without warning anyone. The defendant had a stronger bond with the online community of jihadists she pledged to join, Williams says, and these associates had the ability to help her evade law enforcement.