BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A New York man who traveled to Turkey in an attempt to join the Islamic State group has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization.
FILE – In this 2013 arrest file photo provided by the Lackawanna, N.Y. Police Department, Arafat Nagi is shown. Nagi, who traveled to Turkey in an attempt to join the Islamic State group, pleaded guilty on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018, to attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization. He faces up to 15 years in prison when he’s sentenced in May.(Lackawanna, N.Y. Police Department via AP, File)
Arafat Nagi (NAH’-gee) entered the plea in federal court in Buffalo on Monday. The 47-year-old Lackawanna (lak-ah-WAH’-nah) man faces up to 15 years in prison when he’s sentenced in May.
Prosecutors say Nagi traveled to Turkey in 2012 and 2014 with plans to meet members of the Islamic State group, first purchasing military combat items including body armor, a machete, night vision goggles and a black and white flag associated with the group.
Authorities say he was planning his third trip to Turkey, with plans to continue to Syria to join the fighters, at the time of his arrest in 2015.
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