ISIS and the Crime-Terror Nexus in America

Abstract This study explores the nexus between crime and Islamic State (ISIS) terrorism in America. It highlights trends in the criminal history of all federal ISIS defendants and deceased perpetrators in America, and evaluates whether crime was integral to a plot’s funding or logistics. While less pronounced than in Europe, a prevalence of prior violent crimes is evident, although plot-relevant crime was generally perpetrated by those without criminal history. It explores how gangs and prison impact defendant radicalization and mobilization, finding that gang members often left gang life upon radicalization, and while rare, prison inmates were radicalized by non-isolated terrorist inmates.