ISIS News Today: U.S. Air Force Veteran Charged with Trying to Join and Help ISIS

A U.S. Air Force veteran has been indicted by a federal grand jury in New York City for attempting to join and provide material support to the Islamic State.

Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh, an American citizen, is also facing charges of attempted obstruction of justice.

"Born and raised in the United States, Pugh allegedly turned his back on his country and attempted to travel to Syria in order to join a terrorist organization," said U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch. "We will continue to vigorously prosecute extremists, whether based here or abroad, to stop them before they are able to threaten the United States and its allies."

According to the justice department, last January, Pugh attempted to join ISIS after being fired from his job as an airplane mechanic in the Middle East.

Pugh traveled from Egypt to Turkey on Jan. 10 in order to cross the border to Syria and join ISIS.

But Turkish authorities denied Pugh's entry and sent him back on a return flight to Egypt where he was found carrying four USB thumb drives, an iPod and a cell phone which contained a photo of a machine gun. He was deported to the U.S. by authorities.

The Joint Terrorism Task Force of the F.B.I. obtained a search warrant on Jan. 14 for Pugh's electronic devices including his laptop.

Found in the laptop were recent Internet searches for "borders controlled by Islamic State," "who controls kobani," "kobani border crossing," and "jarablus border crossing," all pertaining to Syrian cities under ISIS control near the Turkish border.

Authorities also found a chart of crossing points between Turkey and Syria indicating the areas on the Syrian side of the border controlled by ISIS and other groups, and Internet searches for "Flames of War," an ISIS propaganda video, and downloaded videos, including one showing ISIS members executing prisoners.

He was arrested on Jan. 16 in Asbury Park, New Jersey, and has been in custody ever since. After Pugh was arrested, authorities obtained search warrants for his two backpacks that contained two compasses, a solar-powered flashlight, a solar-powered power source, shards of broken USB thumb drives, a fatigue jacket and camping clothes.

If Pugh is convicted, the justice department said, he could face a maximum sentence of 35 years in prison.