(CNN) A Connecticut man was arrested after telling people he was planning to leave the country to join ISIS, federal prosecutors say.

talking about traveling to Jordan and then making his way into Syria last year, a Department of Justice news release Ahmad Khalil Elshazly -- an American citizen -- begantalking about traveling to Jordan and then making his way into Syria last year, a Department of Justice news release says. He made the comments in person and online, the release says.

"Elshazly was bent on supporting ISIS. Worried that his efforts here would be too small and that he would be stopped at the airport, he planned to travel overseas aboard a container ship to join and fight for ISIS," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said in a statement.

He wanted to travel by ship to Turkey because he was worried he'd be stopped by authorities at an airport, the release says.

By February, the 22-year-old said he had saved about $1,000 for his journey. He paid someone $500, thinking the money would be used to pay for a part of his trip, the release said. He was arrested Sunday in Stonington, Connecticut, where he thought he was heading to board a ship.

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