Abu-Rayyan in Circuit Court (WDIV)

DETROIT — A Dearborn Heights man who was accused of supporting ISIS and plotting a church attack could face up to 20 years in prison after entering a guilty plea to federal gun counts. 

Khalil Abu-Rayyan, 22, did not face terror-related charges. 

On Tuesday, he pleaded guilty to two counts — making a false statement to acquire a firearm and possession of a firearm by prohibited person.

Abu-Rayyan had plans to “shoot up” a church in Detroit, a legal complaint by the government claimed in February. His case gained immediate national publicity. 

His attorney, however, argued that an FBI operative “manipulated”, “seduced” and “radicalized” his client.

The Dearborn Heights man had shown signs of adopting extremist ideology online. He did tell the FBI agent, who posed as a woman who was interested in him romantically, that he bought a gun and a mask to shoot up a Detroit church.

The authorities found neither the gun he described nor the mask. By the time Abu-Rayyan made that alarming statement, the government operative had explicitly expressed her support for ISIS, saying she would give up her life for the terrorists. Abu-Rayyan, in turn, told her that doesn’t want to hurt anyone, and he needs help.

Abu-Rayyan watched and shared ISIS execution videos, but during pre-trial hearings, his lawyers stressed that the FBI operative pulled him towards radicalization.

“Don’t do anything That will hurt u Yourself or other people (sic),” the defendant wrote to the agent, according to court documents.

In another exchange, she tells him she is willing to give up her life to ISIS.

“Your (you’re) young and confused,” Abu-Rayyan responded.

Abu-Rayyan had bought a .22 caliber revolver last year after lying to the vendor about his habitual marijuana use. The federal charges stem from that transaction.

The suspect also faces drug and weapon charges on the state level after he was pulled over in Detroit, and police found weed and the revolver in his car. 

“I stand before you as an ashamed and embarrassed man,” Abu-Rayyan told a circuit court judge after pleading guilty to state gun counts. “Words cannot describe how remorseful I am. My life will forever be impacted by the situation I put myself in.”

Click On Detroit reported that Abu-Rayyan’s troubling behavior go back to his childhood. When he was 12, he told a teacher that he would like to get a gun and shoot everyone in class.

He was referred to therapy.

During his school years at Star International Academy, he was suspended four times for violent behavior. 

At the time of his arrest, Abu-Rayyan was working at his father’s pizza shop.