Washington, March 18 (IANS): A US Air Force veteran has been indicted by a grand jury for trying to provide material support to the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, media reported on Tuesday.

Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh, a former member of the US Air Force, allegedly tried to join the terrorist group in Syria in January, but was turned back by Turkish authorities before he could get to the war-torn country, according to a CNN report.

He was indicted last week also on the charge of obstructing justice, the US Justice Department said.

Pugh, a former avionics instrument system specialist in the US Air Force, was arrested upon his return to the US in January and would be arraigned on Wednesday in a federal court in New York, the justice department said.

"Pugh, an American citizen and former member of our military, allegedly abandoned his allegiance to the United States and sought to provide material support to ISIL (IS)," Assistant US Attorney General John Carlin said.

Pugh will plead not guilty on Wednesday, his attorney Michael Schneider said.