A California man arrested for allegedly plotting an ISIS-linked attack against Special Forces operatives has claimed through his attorney he was a normal man looking to become a civil engineer.

Elias Shamsaldeen, 21, of Porterville, California, was arrested along with co-defendants Bisaam Ghafoor, 21, of Leawood, Kansas, and Bereen Dzayee, 25, of Lakeside near San Diego, following a lengthy FBI investigation into alleged extremist activity spanning more than a year.

According to a federal criminal complaint filed in Kansas, the trio allegedly pledged allegiance to ISIS, explored providing material support, and communicated with what they believed was a jihadist.

Investigators say the individual was actually a confidential FBI source working undercover.

Prosecutors allege the conversations included repeated references to violence and operational planning, including discussions about traveling overseas to join ISIS and acquiring weapons such as drones, grenades, and rocket-propelled grenades for possible use against US Special Forces personnel.

Authorities say the case began in May 2025 after a confidential human source encountered the group in an online forum.

Investigators later tracked communications in which the suspects allegedly believed they were speaking with an active ISIS contact, as the dialogue escalated into expressions of allegiance and discussions tied to extremist violence.

Law enforcement officials emphasized the seriousness of the allegations, which center on support for a foreign terrorist organization and threats against US military personnel.

Shamsaldeen’s attorney, Peter Jones, who was recently appointed to the case, said he has had limited contact with his client but pushed back on the accusations based on what he knows so far.

He described the 21-year-old as a recent graduate of Porterville Community College with plans to transfer to Fresno State to study civil engineering.

“He doesn’t even have a criminal record,” Jones said.

All three defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization.