American Jailed for 15 Years for Helping al-Qaida

A naturalized American was jailed for 15 years in Miami on Wednesday for conspiring to provide thousands of dollars to al-Qaida and its affiliates in Syria and Somalia, U.S. justice officials said.

Gufran Ahmed Kauser Mohammed, 31, admitted to the court in July that he conspired to provide money and recruits to al-Qaida, the Al-Nusra Front in Syria and the Shebab in Somalia, a Justice Department statement said.

Mohammed, who lived in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and co-conspirator Mohamed Hussein Said were arrested last year in Saudi Arabia after an undercover sting and brought to Miami by FBI agents. 

Mohammed wired Said funds on several occasions for Shebab rebels. He also agreed to support al-Qaida and the Al-Nusra Front by recruiting individuals to fight in the conflict in Syria.

He also gave funds to someone he believed was a fundraiser for jihadist groups but was in fact an undercover FBI agent, leading to his and Said's arrest.

Some of the cash was specifically earmarked for funding attacks on U.S. citizens or the United Nations.

Said's trial is set for May.