Dilshod Khusanov pleaded guilty in Brooklyn Federal Court on Monday to attempting to provide material support to two Brooklyn residents who were planning to travel to Syria to fight for the terrorist organization ISIS.

The proceeding was held before United States District Court Judge William F. Kuntz II. When sentenced, Khusanov faces 11 yearsxe2x80x99 imprisonment under the terms of his plea agreement with the government. As part of his plea agreement, he agreed to the entry of an order of removal, so he will be removed from the country after completing his sentence.xc2xa0

As presented in court filings, Khusanov, of Chicago, encouraged individuals to travel to Syria to wage violent jihad, or holy war, in 2014 and 2015.xc2xa0

For example, on Sept. 28, 2014, Khusanov urged co-conspirator Akmal Zakirov to engage in jihad: xe2x80x9cI hope that the only [reason] that is preventing you from jihad is some mistakes and flaws that are occurring amongxe2x80x9d the other fighters. Khusanov explained that it would be better to help those fighters, rather than criticize them.xc2xa0

Later in 2014, two Brooklyn residents, Abdurasul Juraboev and Akhror Saidakhmetov, began planning to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS. A group of individuals in a domestic network based in New York and elsewhere, including Khusanov, worked together to raise and contribute money to help fund that trip to Syria.xc2xa0

In February 2015, Abror Habibov, Zakirov, Azizjon Rakhmatov, and Dilkhayot Kasimov discussed providing money to support Saidakhmetovxe2x80x99s travel and expenses in Syria. Rakhmatov and Zakirov also agreed to solicit money from others to fund Saidakhmetovxe2x80x99s travel. Zakirov contacted Khusanov, then-based in Illinois, and asked him to contribute money for Saidakhmetovxe2x80x99s travel and to ask another individual to contribute money as well.xc2xa0

Khusanov agreed and arranged for money to be deposited in Zakirovxe2x80x99s bank account before Saidakhmetovxe2x80x99s scheduled departure.xc2xa0

Breon Peace, United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Mark J. Lesko, acting assistant attorney for the Justice Departmentxe2x80x99s National Security Division; Michael J. Driscoll, agent in charge for the FBIxe2x80x99s New York Field Office; and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the guilty plea.xc2xa0

xe2x80x9cWith todayxe2x80x99s plea, Khusanov admits to providing financial support to individuals seeking to travel to Syria to join a violent foreign terrorist organization that seeks to wage war on the United States and other countries,xe2x80x9d stated United States Attorney Peace. xe2x80x9cThis office will continue to work tirelessly with its local, national and international law enforcement partners to eliminate the threat of terrorist violence posed by ISIS and ANF.xe2x80x9dxc2xa0

xe2x80x9cKhusanovxe2x80x99s guilty plea is the final step toward wrapping up this years-long case in which the FBIxe2x80x99s Joint Terrorism Task Force worked tirelesslyxe2x80x94as they always doxe2x80x94to keep the citizens of our city and our country safe from potential terrorist acts,xe2x80x9d said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll. xe2x80x9cKhusanov now awaits his fate for his willingness to provide support to ISIS and the Al-Nusra Front. This is not the end, however, of the FBIxe2x80x99s continued effortsxe2x80x94along with those of our partnersxe2x80x94to diminish the threats posed by terrorists and would-be terrorists worldwide.xe2x80x9dxc2xa0

Khusanov is the last charged defendant in this plot to be convicted. Juraboev, Saidakhmetov, Habibov, Zakirov and Rakhmatov previously pleaded guilty, and Kasimov was convicted at trial. Juraboev and Saidakhmetov each were sentenced to 15 yearsxe2x80x99 imprisonment, and Rakhmatov was sentenced to 12 xc2xbd yearsxe2x80x99 imprisonment. Habibov, Kasimov and Zakirov are awaiting sentencing.