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Chicago feds: Cooperation of IS suspect justifies leniency

Posted November 05, 2016 7:00 am

Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) - U.S. prosecutors are asking for a reduced prison term of 5 years for a suburban Chicago man in an Islamic State case, citing his "extensive" cooperation helping to track two recruiters for the militants.

Mohammed Hamzah Khan pleaded guilty last year in a plea deal to attempting to provide material support to terrorists by seeking to travel to IS territory. The 21-year-old faced a maximum 15-year sentence.

A Friday government filing in Chicago says Khan committed to "abandoning" his country and understood IS's "barbaric nature."

But it adds his cooperation is "an important step in turning away" from IS. It also praises him for offering to testify at related trials.

Agents detained Khan with two younger siblings in 2014 at a Chicago airport. They weren't charged.

Sentencing is Nov. 18.

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