Roofer in Goose Creek, SC

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCBD) – Federal agents arrested a Goose Creek man Tuesday morning after he allegedly lied to authorities about his ties to a terrorist organization and destroyed evidence to obstruct a federal investigation, the US Department of Justice said.

Ala Aldeen Alshaikh, 31, was indicted for lying to FBI agents, making false statements while trying to obtain US citizenship, and destroying evidence.

Alshaikh, a Sudanese national, applied for US citizenship in September 2021, the indictment states. During his interview with the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, he told interviewers he had not associated with a terrorist organization.

Justice officials said this was a lie and Alshaikh had pledged allegiance to and claimed membership in the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) in August 2021.

A year after the immigration interview in preparation for his naturalization ceremony, Alshaikh again denied connection to terrorists on a written immigration form, the indictment states.

Investigators allegedly found evidence that in October and November of 2021, AlshaikhMade statements online indicating his connection to ISIS. The statements referred to a possible attack on the US Embassy after his immigration interview, which took place on September 10, 2021.

Alshaikh also lied to an FBI agent in January 2025 by denying that he ever offered to share aviation expertise with anyone, officials said. Alshaikh, who has aviation experience, allegedly offered to mobilize and share his experience with the militant group Al-Bara Ibn Malik Brigade.

He then destroyed evidence of his online conversations with the Al-Bara Ibn Malik Brigade after he became aware of the federal investigation, according to the indictment.

If convicted, Alshaikh faces a maximum sentence of five to 20 years in prison. He was arraigned after his arrest on Tuesday morning.

His detention hearing is scheduled for September 19 at 10 a.m. before US Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker.

The FBI Columbia Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated this case. Assistant US Attorneys Chris Lietzow and Everett McMillian are prosecuting the case with support from Trial Attorney Kevin C. Nunnally of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterterrorism Section.

GOOSE CREEK — Federal agents arrested a Goose Creek man accused of lying in immigration papers about his ties to the Islamic State group and obstructing federal agents.

Ala Aldeen Alshaikh, 31, appeared in magistrate court Sept. 16 after a grand jury indicted him on four separate counts.

They include making a false statement under oath in an immigration proceeding, making a false statement on an immigration document, making a false statement involving international terrorism to a federal agent and deleting records to obstruct a federal investigation.

The allegations against the Sudanese national focus on comments he made online over a period of several years. He has not been charged with providing material support for terrorism or participating in a conspiracy.

Alshaikh’s various charges carry maximum penalties of between five and 20 years in prison.

Alshaikh allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, in August 2021, according to the indictment. He is accused of lying about that to a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer during an interview a month later.

He is also accused of lying on follow-up immigration forms in March 2022 ahead of his naturalization ceremony, asking him if he had connections with the Communist Party, totalitarian organizations or terrorist groups.

The indictment alleges he destroyed records in November 2024 that included online conversations where he offered to “mobilize and share his aviation expertise” with the Sudanese militant group Al-Bara Ibn Malik Brigade, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office of South Carolina.

The Al-Bara Ibn Malik Brigade and its leader were sanctioned by the U.S. government on Sept. 12. The U.S. State Department said the sanctions stemmed from the group’s connections to Iran and their actions during the war in Sudan, according to a news release. The UN’s human rights chief raised alarms about the group in January after reports of summary executions of civilians.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Lietzow said no other arrests have been made in connection with the investigation.

Lietzow said in court Sept. 16 that Alshaikh lied to FBI agents about his offering of support to the Sudanese militant group in January. Later, he agreed to a follow-up interview but then purchased two one-way tickets back to Sudan for different days. The FBI intercepted him as he tried to board a plane in late February, Lietzow said.

Lietzow said Alshaikh told agents he was heading back to Sudan to work on his family’s banana farm.

He is expected to have a bond hearing at 10 a.m. on Sept. 19 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker. Bill Nettles was assigned as his public defender. He declined to comment after Alshaikh’s hearing.

Alshaikh is being held in the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center.

GOOSE CREEK — A local furniture store that's been owned by the same family for 60 years is closing its doors forever — but it will reopen as a new concept in early 2026.

Infinger Furniture, which the Infinger family opened in 1965, has long sold furniture and mattresses at its hub at 217 South Goose Creek Blvd.

A Facebook post from the business on Sept. 4 confirmed, "After 60 years, Infinger Furniture is closing the doors forever!" but hinted that "it's for a huge reason."

Chuck Dawson, owner of South Carolina-based J&K Home Furnishing, confirmed to The Post and Courier the same day that his company will be taking over for Bobby Infinger, who did not respond to requests for comment.

Just before Labor Day weekend, the Goose Creek building sold for $4.16 million, according to Berkeley County property records. The buyer is Charles Town Holdings LLC of Myrtle Beach, led by Dawson.

"Bobby really didn't have a succession plan and children in the business," Dawson said. "He wanted to do other things, and we were ready to run it."

Along with the building and land, Dawson purchased Infinger's assets, including its name, trucks and furniture. Dawson is also is leasing the company’s 14,000-square-foot warehouse.

Following the sale, Infinger temporarily closed to the public Sept. 4 to prepare for its "massive store-closing liquidation," the company said on its Facebook page. It will reopen Sept. 5 at 10 a.m.

Customers can expect "extreme drastic price cuts" as the store liquidates its entire inventory, including floor models, over the next few weeks, the post stated.

The sale will continue through Nov. 22 when it will then shut down for renovations. In addition to interior and exterior fixes, Dawson's biggest update is to add solar to the rooftop to make the Goose Creek building J&K's first "green" store.

Dawson has hired The Noll Group to liquidate the nearly $2 million in furniture over the next two months.

"We retained Bobby's entire staff," Dawson said, noting all but one hourly receptionist will remain on during the liquidation and will be trained in the Mount Pleasant store.

They'll then return to Goose Creek for the opening in early January.

Part of the need for training, Dawson said, is that 60 percent of J&K's orders are custom.

J&K Home Furnishings has seven locations in South Carolina, including a headquarters in Myrtle Beach and a Mount Pleasant store in Belle Hall shopping center.