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A Yemeni National Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Kill U.S. Soldiers in Afghanistan
A 31-year-old Yemeni national, Ali Alvi al-Hamidi, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder U.S. nationals abroad, conspiring to provide material support to al-Qaeda and receiving military-type training from the terrorist organization. The guilty plea took place before U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York, who will decide al-Hamidi’s sentence. At sentencing, he faces a maximum of life imprisonment.
According to the investigation, al-Hamidi traveled to the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan in early 2008 to join al-Qaeda. There, he received training from the organization in the use of military-type weapons, explosives and detonators. He later moved to Afghanistan with Taliban forces to fight against U.S. military and coalition forces stationed there.
Prosecutors also revealed that al-Hamidi aided Bryant Neal Vinas, a U.S. citizen, in joining al-Qaeda. Vinas, who was from Long Island, New York, traveled to Pakistan hoping to join the terrorist organization and fight U.S. military forces in Afghanistan. Vinas was arrested in 2008 before he could carry out a planned attack on the Long Island Railroad in New York. He pleaded guilty in 2009 to conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals, providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization and receiving military-type training from a foreign terrorist organization.
The guilty plea was announced by Assistant Attorney General for National Security John P. Carlin, U.S. Attorney Robert L. Capers of the Eastern District of New York and Assistant Director in Charge Paul M. Abbate of the FBI’s Washington, D.C., Field Office.
“Ali Alvi al-Hamidi went to the FATA to join al-Qaeda, received training from the terrorist organization, and later fought alongside the Taliban against coalition forces in Afghanistan,” said Assistant Attorney General Carlin. “With this plea, he will be held accountable for his terrorist activity, including conspiring to kill members of our military. The highest priority of the National Security Division is countering terrorist threats, and we will continue to use all tools available to bring justice to those who seek to harm American servicemen and women who bravely risk their lives in defense of our nation.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zainab Ahmad, Michael P. Canty and Douglas M. Pravda of the Eastern District of New York, with assistance provided by Trial Attorney Josh Parecki of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
RELATED: Jordanian Smuggler Pleads Guilty in Yemeni Alien Conspiracy
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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