Cudahy Woman Sentenced to 90 Months in Federal Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced that on August 24, 2020, Waheba Issa Dais (48) of Cudahy, Wisconsin, was sentenced to 90 months in prison and three years of supervised release following her conviction on one count of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.

According to court records, Dais provided support to ISIS in 2018 in the form of expert advice and assistance.  According to admissions made in connection with her plea, Dais used hacked Facebook accounts in order to support ISIS.  Using these accounts, she pledged her allegiance to ISIS on numerous occasions, communicated with and encouraged other ISIS supporters who described their plans to conduct attacks, disseminated information about explosives and biological weapons, and attempted to recruit new members to ISIS’s cause. For example, Dais posted videos providing step-by-step instructions on how to make an explosive belt and TNT, and she provided a detailed recipe for the poison Ricin. Dais also maintained encrypted social-media channels, where she posted messages encouraging ISIS supporters who could not travel to ISIS-controlled lands to conduct terrorist attacks in their home countries. Through those encrypted channels, she also provided detailed information about explosives, guns, attack planning, and target selection.  

“Dais not only personally pledged her allegiance to a terrorist organization but took steps designed to help others cause death and destruction around the world,” said United States Attorney Krueger.  “I commend the agents, analysts, and attorneys who worked hard to bring Dais to justice.”

 “The FBI’s number one priority is fighting terrorism.  This case is a clear example of the influence a foreign terrorist organization such as ISIS, can have right here in Wisconsin.  The significant sentencing underscores the serious consequences for those who choose to support terrorist groups and their plans to attack our citizens.  The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) is dedicated 24/7 to keeping all Americans safe.” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Hughes.

This conviction and sentence is the result of an extensive investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee Field Office. The case was prosecuted by United States Attorney Matthew D. Krueger, Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca Taibleson, and Trial Attorney Jennifer Burke of the National Security Division.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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