California - Two men with ties to southern California were sentenced on Monday to 25 years in prison following their convictions for participating in plots to support terrorists and kill American personnel, the US Department of Justice said.
Sohiel Omar Kabir, 37, and Ralph Deleon, 26, were sentenced by US District Judge Virginia Phillips in Riverside, California.
The government said Kabir, an Afghanistan-born US citizen, and Deleon, a citizen of the Philippines, were convicted last September for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists and to murder US military and government personnel.
Both men were accused of plotting to travel to Afghanistan to fight US and allied forces there.
The government said Kabir was found guilty of conspiring to provide material support to and receive military-style training from al-Qaeda, while Deleon was convicted of conspiring to murder, kidnap and maim people overseas.
“This case demonstrates the need for vigilance and swift action to counter the false allure of violent extremism,” US Attorney Stephanie Yonekura said in a statement.
Both defendants had faced up to life in prison. Their trial lasted more than six weeks.
Lawyers for both defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Two other defendants charged in the case, Miguel Alejandro Santana Vidriales and Arifeen David Gojali, have pleaded guilty and face sentencings on March 16 before Phillips, the Justice Department said.
Kabir lived in Pomona, California, until late 2011, while Deleon lives in Ontario, California, the department said.
The case is US v Kabir et al, US District Court, Central District of California, No 12-cr-00092.
Reuters