18-Year-Old Castle Rock Man Arrested at Denver Airport Attempting to Join ISIS, Faces Terrorism Charges

18-Year-Old Castle Rock Man’s Attempt to Join ISIS

In a published article in Denver7, the 29-page complaint detailed how Meyer first came under the scrutiny of federal agents in June of the previous year when a friend reported his escalating “radical Islamic beliefs.”

The Castle Rock man had been delving deeper into extremist videos and online content. One of these videos depicted a child executing a man for spying on an extremist group, which Castle Rock man Meyer allegedly justified as a just punishment.

Authorities learned that Castle Rock man Meyer’s path toward radicalization had taken a concerning turn.

Previously, he had adhered to white supremacist ideology, but he eventually converted to Islam around October 2020. This conversion was followed by a period of searching out more radical content online, which further fueled his extremist beliefs.

In an attempt to address his mental health issues, Castle Rock man Meyer attended an eight-month-long camp from 2021 to 2022. Federal agents discovered that he was diagnosed with several disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, specific learning disorder with impairment in mathematics, and major depressive disorder.

However, Castle Rock man Meyer reportedly refused to take prescribed medication, citing religious reasons.

Despite attending the camp, Meyer’s beliefs continued to radicalize. He started praying six times a day, engaged in watching radical Islamic sermons online, and refused to attend the local mosque.

Soon after turning 18, Castle Rock man Meyer began communicating online with a person he believed to be an ISIS facilitator, but unbeknownst to him, the individual was an undercover FBI agent.

Meyer pledged his allegiance to ISIS and sent a video purportedly showing his commitment to the terrorist organization.

Over several months, Castle Rock man Meyer communicated with this undercover agent and another he believed to be an ISIS-affiliated travel facilitator, who was, once again, an undercover FBI agent. They met in person on multiple occasions to discuss Meyer’s plans to fund and prepare for his journey to join ISIS.

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18-Year-Old Castle Rock Man Arrested at Denver Airport

Despite expressing anxiety and hesitation about his trip to the Middle East, Meyer displayed determination to follow through with his dangerous plans.

He had already booked a one-way ticket to Turkey, intending to use it as a gateway to reach ISIS territory.

However, law enforcement intervened just in time. After arriving at DIA and checking in for his flight, Castle Rock man Meyer was arrested by the FBI at the jet bridge before he could board the airplane. The gravity of Meyer’s actions cannot be understated.

He faces charges of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, an offense carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

According to a published article, Castle Rock man Meyer’s first court appearance took place on Monday, and his next hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

The case is under investigation by the FBI Denver Field Office, with support from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

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