MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Three Minnesota men accused of plotting to go to Syria to join the Islamic State group were convicted Friday of conspiracy to commit murder overseas.
The federal jury convicted 21-year-old Guled Ali Omar, 22-year-old Abdirahman Yasin Daud (Ahb-DEER’-ah-mahn YAH’-sin Dah-OOD’) and 22-year-old Mohamed Abdihamid Farah of the most serious charges they faced. Conspiracy to commit murder overseas carries the possibility of life in prison.
The three are among 10 young men accused in the conspiracy. Six have pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy to support a foreign terrorist organization. A seventh, 22-year-old Abdi Nur, is at large, believed to be in Syria.
Prosecutors built their case largely on recordings made by a friend of the men who became a paid informant. Testimony at trial showed he was paid roughly $119,000.
Defense attorneys argued that comments on the records were youthful bluster. Family and friends have protested what they call entrapment, and said most of the defendants were in their teens when they were caught up in the Islamic State’s social media recruitment campaign.