According to the complaint, Masood was formerly employed as a Research Coordinator at a medical clinic in Rochester under an H1-B Visa. From January through March of 2020, Masood made several statements to others pledging his allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS) and expressing his desire to travel to Syria to fight for them. He also expressed his desire to conduct "lone wolf" terrorist attacks inside the United States.

Masood purchased a plane ticket to depart from Chicago and travel to Jordan from which point he would travel to Syria. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Syria closed its borders to incoming travel and his flight was canceled. Masood made a new plan to fly to Los Angeles to meet with an individual who he believed would help him travel to ISIS territory aboard a cargo ship, the attorney's office said.