'ISIS militant' from San Diego caught by Facebook charged with lying to FBI

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Mohamad Saeed Kodaimati, 24, faced two counts of making false statements involving international terrorism
Saeed was born in Syria and became a naturalized American citizen in 2008 at age 17
The 24-year-old allegedly lied to FBI he had not been involved in any fighting, had never fired his weapon and did not know any ISIS members
Posted photos on Facebook carrying guns and posing with known ISIS militants
In online posts, Saeed allegedly bragged about working for sharia court and fighting in battle that lasted four months

By Reuters and Snejana Farberov For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:52 EST, 23 April 2015 | Updated: 03:19 EST, 24 April 2015

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A 24-year-old San Diego man was arrested and charged on Thursday with lying to federal agents about his involvement with Islamic State militants fighting in Syria, which has been documented on his Facebook page.

Mohamad Saeed Kodaimati faced two counts of making false statements involving international terrorism matters in US District Court of the Southern District of California.

Saeed, who was born in Syria and became a naturalized American citizen in 2008 at age 17, is accused of making false statements during interviews with the FBI and other US authorities at the US Embassy in Ankara, Turkey, in March, the Justice Department said.

Terror suspect: Mohamad Saeed Kodaimati, 24, a Syrian national and naturalized US citizen, is accused of making false statements to the FBI about his involvement with Syrian militants

Family business: Saeed (left) is seen in a photograph taken in spring 2014 with his brother

Mixed messages: Saeed falsely claimed he had not been involved in any fighting, had never fired his weapon at anyone and did not know any Islamic State members, but the FBI has found evidence to the contrary, including this Facebook photo

The criminal complaint said Saeed falsely claimed he had not been involved in any fighting, had never fired his weapon at anyone and did not know any Islamic State members.

He also said he had never told anyone he was involved with the Nusra Front and had never worked or volunteered at a Sharia court, it said. Nusra Front is al Qaeda's Syrian arm.

'Evidence gathered during the investigation contradicts these and other statements Saeed made to the interviewing agents,' a Justice Department statement said.

Federal agents investigating Saeed, who immigrated to the US with his family at age 10, have uncovered incriminating Facebook photos and posts indicating his alleged involvement with Syrian militants.

One photo of Saeed posted on his Facebook page shows him with a man who officials say has sworn allegiance to ISIS.

Another photo of Saeed and his brother show them in the spring of 2014 when Saeed later admitted he shot up a Syrian prison.

Others images released by the Justice Department this week depict a heavily bearded Saeed brandishing powerful assault rifles, a faint smile on his lips.

In online chats and posts, Saeed allegedly bragged about working for a sharia court, openly expressed his support for ISIS and claimed he had fought in a gun battle that lasted four months, reported Los Angeles Times.

Oversharing: In online chats and posts, Saeed allegedly bragged about working for a sharia court, expressed his support for ISIS and claimed he had fought in a gun battle that lasted four months

Terror tourism: The 24-year-old Californian traveled from San Diego to Istanbul and was in Syriaand Turkey until his return to the United States in March

Bad company: This photo shows Saeed with a man who officials say has sworn allegiance to ISIS

‘I am currently the media person for the Shari'ah Authority,’ Saeed is alleged to have boasted to a friend online.

In a December 2013 Facebook conversation, Saeed allegedly wrote, ‘I work with the brothers,’ according to documents cited by NBC San Diego.

The 24-year-old Californian traveled from San Diego to Istanbul and was in Syria and Turkey until his return to the United States in March.

He was arrested Wednesday in Rancho Bernardo, located in the northern part of San Diego.

San Diego 6 reported that Saeed made his initial court appearance Thursday and was ordered held without bail after prosecutors argued that the 24-year-old terror suspect was a flight risk and posed a threat to the community.

He is due back in court next Tuesday for a detention hearing.