Bilal Abood

Texas-based Bilal Abood is an Iraqi-born naturalized U.S. citizen and member of ISIS.Deborah Hastings, “FBI arrests Texas man who pledged allegiance to ISIS, fought with rebels in Syria, agents say,” New York Daily News, June 15, 2015, http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/feds-arrest-texas-man-allegedly-allied-isis-article-1.2222756. In 2015 he pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal agents and was sentenced to four years in prison.“Iraqi-Born U.S. Citizen Admits Making False Statement to FBI,” Federal Bureau of Investigation, October 13, 2015, https://www.fbi.gov/dallas/press-releases/2015/iraqi-born-u.s.-citizen-admits-making-false-statement-to-fbi; “Iraqi-Born U.S. Citizen Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Making False Statements to the FBI,” U.S. Department of Justice, May 25, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/iraqi-born-us-citizen-sentenced-48-months-prison-making-false-statements-fbi. Abood was released on November 6, 2018.“BILAL ABOOD,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed March 23, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/#.

Abood served as a translator for the U.S. Army during the Gulf War and migrated to the U.S. in 2009, settling in Mesquite, Texas.Scott Shane, “Iraqi Who Worked for the U.S. Military Is Arrested in Texas in Link to Islamic State,” New York Times, May 14, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/15/us/iraqi-who-worked-for-the-us-military-is-arrested-in-texas-in-link-to-islamic-state.html?_r=0. In the same year, Abood began work as a security guard and in 2013 allegedly traveled to Syria for four months to fight alongside the anti-Assad Free Syrian Army.Deborah Hastings, “FBI arrests Texas man who pledged allegiance to ISIS, fought with rebels in Syria, agents say,” New York Daily News, June 15, 2015, http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/feds-arrest-texas-man-allegedly-allied-isis-article-1.2222756.

On July 9, 2014, the FBI obtained a search warrant for Abood’s computer on which it found pro-ISIS propaganda and tweets on Abood’s Twitter account pledging allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.Kevin Krause, “Judge orders Mesquite man accused of lying to FBI over terrorist allegiances held without bond,” Dallas Morning News, May 15, 2015, http://crimeblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/judge-orders-mesquite-man-accused-of-lying-to-fbi-over-terrorist-allegiances-held-without-bond.html/. When the FBI returned Abood’s computer a year later on April 14, 2015, he reportedly claimed he had never pledged allegiance to ISIS.“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, May 13, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/file/438636/download.

The FBI arrested Abood on May 14, 2015, and charged him with making a false statement.“Iraqi-Born U.S. Citizen Arrested For Making False Statement to the FBI,” United States Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas, May 14, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/usao/txn/PressRelease/2015/MAY2015/MAY14Abbod_arrest.html. In court during a detention hearing, FBI Special Agent John Brown confirmed that Abood served as a translator for the U.S. Army in Iraq during the Gulf War. Brown asserted that it is due to his background of basic army training and occupation as a security guard that he poses a threat.Jason Whitely and Monica Hernandez, “Mesquite man detained; judge calls him flight risk, safety threat,” WFAA ABC, May 15, 2015, http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/2015/05/14/tweet-about-isis-could-send-mesquite-man-to-prison/27347493/.

Abood’s girlfriend, Barbara Strebeck, spoke to the media after his detention hearing. She claimed he was not a terrorist and that the FBI had set him up.“FBI arrests Mesquite man it says pledged allegiance to ISIS leader,” Fox 4 News, May 14, 2015, http://www.fox4news.com/story/29068539/mesquite-man-arrested-for-lying-to-fbi-about-isil-support.

In October 2015, Abood pleaded guilty to charges of making a false statement to federal agents.“Iraqi-Born U.S. Citizen Admits Making False Statement to FBI,” Federal Bureau of Investigation, October 13, 2015, https://www.fbi.gov/dallas/press-releases/2015/iraqi-born-u.s.-citizen-admits-making-false-statement-to-fbi. FBI agent Thomas Class asserted that Abood “[had] lied to the FBI about the true purpose of his travel to Syria and his allegiance to ISIL,” adding, “…he will face the consequences.”“Iraqi-Born U.S. Citizen Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Making False Statements to the FBI,” U.S. Department of Justice, May 25, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/iraqi-born-us-citizen-sentenced-48-months-prison-making-false-statements-fbi. In late May 2016, Abood was sentenced to four years in prison.“Iraqi-Born U.S. Citizen Sentenced to 48 Months in Prison for Making False Statements to the FBI,” U.S. Department of Justice, May 25, 2016, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/iraqi-born-us-citizen-sentenced-48-months-prison-making-false-statements-fbi. He was released on November 6, 2018.“BILAL ABOOD,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed March 23, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/#.

Also Known As
  • ibn alislaam“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, May 13, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/file/438636/download.
  • @4albaghdady_l978“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, May 13, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/file/438636/download.

    • Extremist entity
    ISIS
    Read Threat Report
    Type(s) of Organization:
    Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
    Ideologies and Affiliations:
    Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
    Position(s):
    Propagandist, member, supporter

    ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.

    • Rhetoric

    Jul. 1, 2014

    “Advice from Sheikh al-Hatari to the Elders of Al-Qaida- God save them…”“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, May 13, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/file/438636/download.

    Jun. 19, 2014

    “I pledge obedience to the Caliphate Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Here we renew our pledge to the Caliphate Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi come on supporter where is the pledger.”“Criminal Complaint,” United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, May 13, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/file/438636/download.

    Return to Full Database

    Daily Dose

    Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.

    Fact:

    On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel where, in the space of eight hours, hundreds of armed terrorists perpetrated mass crimes of brutality, rape, and torture against men, women and children. In the biggest attack on Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, 1,200 were killed, and 251 were taken hostage into Gaza—where 101 remain. One year on, antisemitic incidents have increased by record numbers. 

    View Archive