A former sailor who once wore the uniform of the United States Navy now stands accused of plotting to bankroll a bloody ISIS attack against the very troops he once called brothers in arms.
Federal agents say 25-year-old Bareen Dzayee, along with two accomplices, allegedly funneled cash to what they thought was a member of the Islamic State — with the explicit goal of killing Americans.
The Justice Department announced that Dzayee and his associates, 21-year-old Bisaam Ghafoor and 21-year-old Elias Shamsaldeen, were arrested by the FBI after an elaborate sting operation.
Prosecutors allege the trio sent over $2,000 to an undercover FBI source who they believed was a trusted ISIS contact.
Their plan, according to investigators, was to help purchase drones and rocket-propelled grenades to use against U.S. service members stationed overseas.
Court documents paint a disturbing picture of the group’s devotion to a terrorist ideology.
“Over years, the individuals communicated about several plans to support ISIS, including through the provision of personnel, services and money,” the criminal complaint stated. They allegedly swore their loyalty — or “Bayat” — to the terrorist organization’s leader through online chats and voice calls.
Dzayee’s connection to the Navy only deepens the betrayal. He enlisted in 2021 and served aboard the USS John McCain until his separation from service on July 19, 2024.
While there’s no indication he acted on extremist impulses while in uniform, investigators say that after leaving the Navy, he quickly veered into dangerous ideological territory.
By March 2025, the FBI had flagged Dzayee and the two other suspects for their radicalized social media activity. Their posts openly praised ISIS, called for violence against Americans, and discussed weapons and explosives. This wasn’t idle chatter — these men were talking tactics, recruitment, and killing.
A confidential FBI source approached them online in May 2025, posing as a fellow ISIS supporter. From there, the suspects allegedly deepened their plans to join ISIS and attack Western targets.
Shamsaldeen, according to court filings, bragged about wanting to maim U.S. service members and travel abroad to wage jihad. The trio even discussed ways to “take action” and bring their plans to life.
Between March and May of this year, all three suspects wired cash to the undercover agent. Their payments were described as contributions to buy weapons meant for slaughtering Americans.
One particularly vile exchange reportedly saw Ghafoor joke that it would be “sick” if his name were written on a drone before it was used to kill U.S. troops. That’s the level of depravity federal agents uncovered.
Knowing full well that what he was doing was treason, Ghafoor still went through with the payments. Prosecutors say he admitted as much to the undercover source, confessing he wanted to continue because betraying America “felt right.”
This same man allegedly fantasized about beheading a female soldier and bragged about wanting to murder 300,000 Americans. It’s hard to imagine a clearer example of homegrown radical hatred.
The FBI and the War Department’s counterterrorism teams executed the arrests before any physical harm could occur.
They credit a tip from vigilant citizens and thorough digital monitoring — exactly the kind of proactive defense Americans rely on. U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser emphasized that vigilance in his statement announcing the arrests.
“For years, the Department of Justice has been encouraging Americans that if they see suspicious activity, they should report it to law enforcement,” Kriegshauser said. “That’s because long gone are the days where terrorist threats and attacks are incidents that only take place far away on foreign soil.” He’s right.
The battlefield is often unseen now, fought in encrypted messages and online forums — and sadly, sometimes by those who once wore the uniform.
This case is one more reminder that the enemies of the United States aren’t just overseas hiding in caves.
Some are within our own borders, even within our own institutions. It reinforces why strong national security policies, robust intelligence operations, and unapologetic patriotism are more critical than ever.
It also raises a question about the Navy’s screening and exit procedures for personnel with potential radical ties. With thousands entering and leaving the ranks every year, the War Department must maintain aggressive counterintelligence measures to ensure no extremist sympathizers are hiding in the ranks.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has repeatedly called for tightened background checks and ideological vetting across all branches — policies that are getting renewed attention after cases like this.
While the Justice Department follows through with prosecutions, every red-blooded American can take one thing away from this chilling story: the fight against terrorism is not over.
ISIS may have lost territory, but its poison still infects minds. The difference now is that our military and intelligence communities — guided by true warriors in leadership — are better equipped to expose and destroy such threats before they erupt into tragedy.
As for Dzayee and his partners in treason, they’ll face justice in a federal court, not on the battlefield they imagined. And unlike the soldiers they plotted to kill, they’ll never again know the honor of serving under the American flag.