Florida man accused of lying in ISIS support investigation

Robert Blake Jackson, of Pensacola, appeared in court Thursday

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A man from the Florida panhandle who was accused of making social media posts in support of the terror group ISIS was arrested Thursday morning and appeared in federal court.

Robert Blake Jackson, 31, of Pensacola, is charged with making false statements in a federal investigation.

DOCUMENT: Criminal complaint against Jackson

Jackson posted to Facebook on several occasions in 2014 and 2015 expressing support for extremist terrorist groups and stated a desire to help the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS or ISIL), according to the criminal complaint affidavit.

The FBI's San Diego Division said it reviewed the Facebook profile 'Abdur Rashid Bin Jackson' in October 2014, which was identified as posting comments expressing support for extremist terrorist groups.

The user posted a picture of the ISIL flag in September 2014.

Another Facebook user posted the question, "Are you ISIS?" to which 'Abdur Rashid Bin Jackson' replied, "I am not ISIS, though I wish I could help."

The affidavit said an investigation of public Facebook photographs and open source records showed the photographs matched Robert Blake Jackson of Pensacola.

The affidavit also alleges that a Pensacola telemarketing business reported it had fired Jackson in January 2015 for viewing ISIL and other terrorist-related websites and videos on his work computer.

When FBI agents interviewed Jackson in June 2015, he denied all these activities, according to the Department of Justice.

The affidavit said in that interview, Jackson said he used the alias 'Abdur Rashid' but he said he never posted to social media anything pro-ISIS.

In July 2015, the FBI's Jacksonville division found a new profile bearing the name 'Abdurrashid Al Amriki,' which displayed a photograph of Jackson, according to the affidavit.

If convicted, Jackson faces up to five years in prison. He is currently in federal custody, being held at the Santa Rosa County Jail, pending further proceedings.

Future court appearances will take place in the U.S. District Court in Pensacola on a date to be determined.