BUFFALO, NY-- A Lackawanna man accused of planning to join ISIL has admitted to attempting to provide material support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization.
Arafat Nagi pleaded guilty in Federal Court on Monday.
After his arrest in 2015, Federal prosecutors say Nagi bought night goggles, body armor and other tactical gear, and pledged his allegiance online to the Islamic State group.
At a press conference on Monday, prosecutors explained how technology - including cell phone records - helped them build their case.
"The deleted messages had to do mostly with his communicating with his family and some people overseas. It was the Facebook messaging that really brought to light that he intended to leave Turkey and go to Syria," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Lynch.
In a 2016 court proceeding, Lynch said they now have a photo of Nagi holding an AK-47 while standing in front of the ISIL flag.
Nagi was born and raised in Lackawanna, NY, but has family in Turkey. It is where he traveled twice, once in 2012 and again in 2014.