Salisbury man receives 20 years for supporting ISIS

Donald Ray Morgan pleaded guilty in October 2014 to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and possession of a firearm by a felon. Morgan attempted to travel from Lebanon to Syria to join ISIS and used social media to express his support for the terrorist group, authorities said. He was arrested last August at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York for possession of a firearm by a felon.

“Donald Ray Morgan proved himself to be a threat to national security,” John Strong, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Charlotte office, said in a statement. “He traveled overseas with intentions to join the violent terrorist group, ISIL in Syria. One of the FBI’s highest priorities is to stop American citizens who support terrorist organizations and ensure they are held accountable for their actions.”

In a handwritten statement to WRAL, Morgan, who identifies himself as Nasser Abdul Raheem, blames the federal government for his actions.

“Ironically, you are the best ‘recruiter’ for jihad,” he wrote. “Your terrorism, foreign policies, drone attacks, propaganda and killing of innocent Muslims invoke the most passive, moderate Muslim to take action.”

Morgan also said he will continue supporting ISIS.

“I pledge my life to establishing and defending the Islamic State, fighting for the cause of Allah and defending Muslims,” he wrote. “I will do this from any place on earth, including this prison cell.”