Local man guilty of lying to feds about his support of ISIS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A local man was found guilty of lying to federal agents about his support of ISIS during a terror investigation.

A federal grand jury indicted Alexander Samuel Smith on two charges of making a false statement to an agency of the United States.

(Alexander Samuel Smith)

In July 2014, Smith initiated contact with a person he believed was an ISIS representative but instead was an FBI confidential human source, according to the indictment.

Court documents show that during their conversations, Smith discussed his desire and plans to travel to Syria to fight with ISIS.

During a meeting with the confidential source in Matthews, Smith mentioned that his girlfriend was an airline employee with a buddy pass that allows others to fly at discounted rates, the federal indictment said.

The confidential source asked Smith on March 18, 2015, if he could use the buddy pass for “a brother who ISIS needed a lot,” according to the federal indictment. The source told Smith he wanted to arrange a buddy pass for an individual to travel from Tampa Bay, Florida, to Buffalo, New York, and then from Buffalo the individual would travel to Canada, then Europe, to Turkey and then into Syria, court documents said.

The federal indictment said Smith got his girlfriend to purchase the buddy pass on March 20, 2015.

FBI agents interviewed Smith in January and February 2016 about the buddy pass purchase.

When asked if he had expressed to someone a desire to go to Syria and join ISIS, Smith denied making any statements, according to the federal indictment.

Court documents show that Smith also denied purchasing a buddy pass.

The FBI stated in the federal indictment that the statements Smith made the agency were false.

Channel 9 asked U.S. Attorney Jill Westmoreland Rose why Smith wasn’t charged with terrorism.

“We didn't have the necessary elements for a terrorism charge at this time,” she said.

Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker said the three-year investigation likely took so long so investigators could gather more intel that could lead to other arrests.

This case is an example of the FBI being very proactive, he said.

"They just can't afford to take chances,” Swecker said. They're going to run out every little tiny lead and make sure people like this. We can't just pass them by."

Cox Media Group