WISCONSIN – Two Wisconsin men have been charged for attempting to join ISIS by traveling through Mexico to Syria, according to the New York Daiy News. 

Jason Ludke, 35, and Yosvany Padilla-Conde, 30, both of Milwaukee, outlined their plan to join the brutal Islamic State group in Facebook conversations and emails sent to an undercover FBI agent, a criminal complaint obtained by the Daily News shows.

In a video sent to the agent on Oct. 1, both men pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi and said they wanted to strive for “paradise” by fighting for the terror group, whose territory in the Middle East has been significantly reduced following extensive airstrikes carried out by a U.S.-led coalition.

Ludke told investigators the plan was to obtain passports for Arab countries in Mexico and then travel to Yemen where he and Padilla-Conde would study Arabic. They would then travel on to Syria where they would join “the path of truth” by fighting the “infidels.”

“The arrest of these two individuals from Wisconsin underscores how the real threat of terrorism can occur anywhere at any time,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Justin Tolomeo said in a statement. “We encourage all citizens to remain vigilant in reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.”

Ludke, who converted to Islam in 2003, was the most insistent on traveling to Syria and often spoke about wanting to take part in jihad, according to the complaint. Padilla-Conde in fact told agents he tried to talk his friend out of the idea, but finally agreed to travel to the battle-torn country after losing his job and facing evection from his apartment.

They could both face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.