MINNEAPOLIS — A Pakistani doctor who worked as a research coordinator in the Mayo Clinic system has been sentenced to 18 years in federal prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a well-known terrorist organization.
When he was arrested at the Minneapolis airport in March 2020, his bag packed with combat gear, Muhammad Masood had pledged to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS as a soldier and medic, writing, "I want to kill and get killed... and kill and get killed... and again and again."
The then-28-year-old Pakistani doctor was in the US, his VISA sponsored by the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, where he worked for two years as a clinical research coordinator.
But Masood didn't know he was communicating with undercover FBI agents who were onto his radicalization, consuming Islamic State terrorist propaganda and calling infamous terror leader Anwar al-Awlaki "my brother."
Masood even said he wanted to carry out "lone wolf" attacks in the U.S.
At his sentencing hearing in federal court, Masood took responsibility apologized to Judge Paul Magnuson, "I don't have words to explain how regretful and remorseful I am."
His family and defense attorney told the judge Masood had untreated mental illness and was spiraling after failing a medical exam and getting divorced, making him susceptible to radicalization and recruitment.
Judge Magnuson agreed that mental illness played a role and he commended Masood for getting treatment in jail and taking responsibility.
But Magnuson said, "You are sitting in this court as a convicted terrorist. That's the way it is."
And Magnuson sentenced Mahood to 18 years in a federal prison.
Court documents say Masood engaged in the following activities:
- Used an encrypted messaging app in an attempt to travel overseas to join a terror organization.
- Made multiple statements about his desire to join ISIS.
- Pledged his allegiance to the terrorist organization and its leader.
Perhaps more concerning are allegations Masood expressed a desire to conduct "lone wolf" terrorist attacks in the U.S.
Court documents say Masood eventually purchased a plane ticket from Chicago to Amman, Jordan, and from there planned to travel to Syria where he would join up with ISIS. On March 16, 2020, Masood was forced to change his travel plans because Jordan closed its borders to incoming travelers due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
At that point, Masood allegedly agreed to fly from Minneapolis to Los Angeles to meet up with an individual who he believed would assist him with travel via cargo ship and deliver him to ISIS territory. Instead, he was arrested by authorities at MSP International Airport by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Masson eventually pled guilty to attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization. He received his 18-year sentence Friday from U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson.
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