DEARBORN HEIGHTS — On Thursday, April 6, Khalil Abu Rayyan, a 22-year-old accused of supporting ISIS was sentenced to five years in prison for federal firearm charges.

U.S. District Judge George Caram Steeh said in sentencing Abu Rayyan he wanted to send a message that the “first steps” toward terrorism or other violent crimes “carry serious consequences.”

Rayyan told Steeh on Monday, March 27 that he embarrassed Islam during a hearing that ended with a postponed sentencing.

“I never intended to hurt anyone,” the Dearborn Heights man said. “My behavior caused embarrassment to myself, my family, my community and my religion.”

Last year, Abu Rayyan pleaded guilty to charges of making a false statement to obtain a firearm and illegal possession of a firearm.

In 2015, the FBI kept an eye on him after he bragged about plotting a shooting at a Detroit church on behalf of ISIS.

Abu Rayyan was unaware he had been chatting with an undercover FBI agent. He purportedly conveyed his support for ISIS to the agent and said he had an AK-47.

However, he was not charged with terrorism-related crimes, but for illegal gun possession.

Defense attorney Todd Shanker wrote in a March 2 sentencing note that Abu Rayyan condemns ISIS and understands Islam better now.

“Rayyan now unequivocally denounces ISIS — its predations, brutality and terrorism,” Shanker said. “He now has a more informed understanding of his faith and the bastardization of the religion by radical elements.”