Chicago Cousins Guilty of Supporting Terrorists to Kill U.S. Troops

Two Chicago residents have pleaded guilty for their roles in a conspiracy to support terrorism and attack U.S. military forces in Iraq or Afghanistan, federal prosecutors announced.

Zubair Ahmed, 29, and his cousin Khaleel Ahmed, 28, both of Chicago, each face a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine for providing material support to terrorists, as well as three years of supervised release following their sentences.

The brothers were charged in the Northern District of Ohio with conspiracy to provide support, including themselves, to terrorists in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. Section 2339A. They had been preparing to travel overseas for the purpose of committing acts that would result in the murder or maiming of U.S. military personnel.

Their criminal activities began no later than April 1, 2004, and continued until their arrest on February 21, 2007. The defendants traveled to Cairo, Egypt, with intent to carry out their plot against U.S. forces in the Middle East. Upon returning, they sought firearms training and counter-surveillance techniques from a source in Cleveland.

Both suspects also communicated using code words and foreign languages to conceal their plans. They researched gunsmithing and collected videos of attacks on U.S. military personnel, as well as military manuals for tactics and weaponry.

The guilty pleas were hailed by federal officials as a victory against terrorism. ‘This case underscores the need for vigilance in identifying and dismantling extremist plots within our nation,’ said Matthew Olsen, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for National Security.

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