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Cooperation Results in Light Sentences in Islamic State Case
Source: Associated Press
Cooperation Results in Light Sentences in Islamic State Case
By STEVE KARNOWSKI, ASSOCIATED PRESS MINNEAPOLIS — Nov 14, 2016, 7:20 PM ET
Two men who cooperated with authorities investigating a Minnesota conspiracy to join the Islamic State group in Syria were rewarded with light sentences Monday, but a third who didn't help prosecutors got a 10-year sentence from a federal judge.
U.S. District Judge Michael Davis sentenced Abdullahi Mohamed Yusuf, 20, to 21 months already served in jail. Abdirizak Warsame, 21, didn't fare as well, but his sentence of 2½ years in prison was two years less than prosecutors sought. While all three pleaded guilty, Zacharia Abdurahman, 21, got 10 years in prison because he didn't cooperate with the government and refused to testify against other members of what Davis called a "terrorist cell."
Davis asked Abdurahman why he didn't.
"As a man, I made a decision not to do that to my former friends. Your honor, I'm a man of principle. ... Our religion teaches you not to harm another brother," he replied, sniffing and wiping away tears as he stood before the court.
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By STEVE KARNOWSKI, ASSOCIATED PRESS MINNEAPOLIS — Nov 14, 2016, 7:20 PM ET
Two men who cooperated with authorities investigating a Minnesota conspiracy to join the Islamic State group in Syria were rewarded with light sentences Monday, but a third who didn't help prosecutors got a 10-year sentence from a federal judge.
U.S. District Judge Michael Davis sentenced Abdullahi Mohamed Yusuf, 20, to 21 months already served in jail. Abdirizak Warsame, 21, didn't fare as well, but his sentence of 2½ years in prison was two years less than prosecutors sought. While all three pleaded guilty, Zacharia Abdurahman, 21, got 10 years in prison because he didn't cooperate with the government and refused to testify against other members of what Davis called a "terrorist cell."
Davis asked Abdurahman why he didn't.
"As a man, I made a decision not to do that to my former friends. Your honor, I'm a man of principle. ... Our religion teaches you not to harm another brother," he replied, sniffing and wiping away tears as he stood before the court.
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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/minnesota-judge-sentence-men-islamic-state-case-43524303