Judge rules on Elkhart mom charged with helping ISIS's detention request

An Elkhart native's request to be let out of custody while she awaits trial has been denied by Federal Judge Philip Simon in Hammond on December 20.

Samantha Elhassani, 32, was formally charged on August 22 for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a known terrorist organization, and aiding and abetting individuals in providing material support to ISIS.

The government issued its opinion prior to the December 20 judgement, saying that she is "an extraordinary flight risk" and should not be let out and there is no reason she needs to be let out.

Her now-dead husband, Moussa Elhassani, was also allegedly training to become an ISIS fighter overseas.

The Department of Justice alleges it obtained a video of Elhassani and her deceased husband training Elhassani’s minor son from a previous marriage to become an ISIS fighter/marksman.