Leawood man among 3 arrested on charges of funding ISIS, plotting attacks on U.S. troops

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – A Leawood man is among three U.S. citizens arrested by the FBI for allegedly funding ISIS to kill American troops overseas.

The arrests were made in Kansas City, Kansas; San Diego; and Sacramento, California, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Friday, June 5.

Who Was Arrested

Federal prosecutors said they filed charges in the District of Kansas against:

  • Bissam Ghafoor, 21, of Leawood, Kansas
  • Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, of Porterville, California
  • Bareen Dzayee, 25, of Lakeside, California

Investigators indicated that all three are U.S. citizens and face charges of conspiring to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

If convicted, federal law dictates that each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

How the Investigation Began

Court records show the case started in early March 2025, when an anonymous tipster reported a social media user posting pro-ISIS content online…

Story continues

TRENDING NOW

LATEST LOCAL NEWS