A Masked Islamic State Militant Holding A Knife Speaks Next To Man Purported To Be U.S. Journalist James Foley At An Unknown Location In This Still Image From An Undated Video Posted On A Social Media Website
A masked Islamic State militant holding a knife speaks next to man purported to be U.S. journalist James Foley at an unknown location in this still image from an undated video posted on a social media website. REUTERS/Social Media Website v

A 19-year old American from Chicago, Illinois is facing terrorism-related charges for allegedly trying to join the radical and brutal group ISIS. Authorities arrested Mohammed Hamzah Khan late Saturday at O'Hare International Airport while waiting for a flight to Vienna. He is believed to fly to Istanbul, Turkey from Vienna, and then work out his way into Iraq or Syria to join ISIS.

Khan, a U.S. citizen, is facing one count of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization, a criminal complaint filed by the Department of Justice on Monday said. If found guilty, Khan will serve 15 years in prison as well as pay a $250,000 fine, according to a news release from the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

At the time he was being arrested at the airport by FBI agents, others executed a search warrant his home. Authorities said they found documents implicating him to the Islamic State group. The search in his home yielded that the Austrian Airlines ticket to Turkey was purchased in late September.

The criminal complaint lodged to the young teen said it found a page in a notebook where Khan allegedly drew what appeared to be an armed fighter of the ISIS, along with its group flag. It also had the words 'Come to Jihad' written in Arabic.

Another document, this time three pages, was also found. It was handwritten and addressed to Khan's parents. There he informed them he was on his way to Syria to join the Islamic State. He said he was upset how his U.S. taxes were being used to kill his "Muslim brothers and sisters."

"We are all witness that the western societies are getting more immoral day by day," Khan allegedly told his parents in the letter. "I do not want my kids being exposed to filth like this."

The giveaway that eventually implicated Khan was when he wrote his parents a stern warning. In capital letters, he told his parents "FIRST and FOREMOST, PLEASE MAKE SURE NOT TO TELL THE AUTHORITIES."

At the time he got arrested at the airport, Khan allegedly told the FBI he will contact someone in Istanbul who would then direct him how to get in touch with the members of the ISIS. When asked what he would do there, Khan said he would "be involved in some type of public service, a police force, humanitarian work or a combat role," according to the narrative in the complaint.