Federal grand jury indicts Detroit man Jibreel Pratt in new ISIS terror case

DETROIT — Federal agents arrested a Detroit man Tuesday who was indicted and accused of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.

The bare-bones indictment of Jibreel Pratt, 25, alleges that he tried to provide money to the foreign terrorist organization from March-May 2023.

Pratt was arrested early Tuesday to face charges that carry punishment of up to 20 years in federal prison. U.S. Magistrate Judge R. Steven Whalen ordered Pratt be detained until at least Thursday and prosecutors are expected to argue he should be jailed without bond because he is a flight risk and danger to the public.

"...Mr. Pratt is presumed innocent, and that we’ll await further proceedings before making any further comment," his lawyer, Benton Martin, wrote in an email to The Detroit News.

Pratt was indicted nine months after he was charged in a separate federal criminal case accusing him of wire fraud and other financial crimes involving an illicit online marketplace called Genesis Market.

The market sold user names, passwords and other data stolen from computers infected with malware.

“The indictment alleges that the defendant attempted to support and join ISIS, which is one of the most brutal terrorist organizations in the world,” U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison said in a statement. “These charges reflect our commitment to hold accountable anyone who tries to help terrorists.”

Pratt is the latest person from Metro Detroit to face terrorism-related charges.

Aws Mohammed Naser of Westland is awaiting trial after prosecutors say he bragged about his role in killing a Christian gold merchant, was blocked repeatedly from traveling overseas to join the jihadist group and was caught building a bomb for ISIS.

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