ISIS In Chicago? Two Men Charged For Trying To Provide Support To Islamic State Group

isis flag — A member loyal to the Islamic State group (ISIS) waves an ISIS flag in Raqqa, Syria, June 29, 2014. REUTERS

Police in Chicago arrested two men Wednesday from north suburban area of Zion on federal charges for conspiring to provide material support and resources to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS. The men Joseph D. Jones and Edward Schimenti also pledged their alliance to the militant group, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Illinois.

Jones and Schimenti "advocated on social media for violent extremism in support of the terrorist group," U.S. Attorney Joel Levin said in a complaint filed in federal court. They are also reported have posed with an ISIS flag at Illinois Beach State Park.

Jones and Schimenti were arrested after undercover FBI employees got in touch with them while disguising as ISIS sympathizers, the attorney's office said in a statement. Jones identified himself as Yusuf Abdulhaqq, while Schimenti changed his name to Abdul Wali.

“In the fall of 2015, the pair befriended three individuals whom Jones and Schimenti believed were fellow ISIS devotees. Unbeknownst to Jones and Schimenti, two of the individuals were undercover FBI employees and the third individual was cooperating with law enforcement and was not an ISIS supporter,” according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago,” according to the criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, cited by CBS Local.

After befriending the undercover FBI agents, the two men provided cellphones to them "believing they would be used to detonate explosive devices in ISIS attacks." The men met an undercover FBI agent at O’Hare International Airport, where Schimenti told the agent to “drench that land with … blood,” the complaint alleged.

In 2015, Jones posted a “traveler’s guide” on social media for people who wanted to go to the Middle East to join the ISIS.

Law enforcement officials are also raiding one of their homes in Zion. If convicted, both me could land behind the bars for up to 20 years, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.