Washington, May 20: A Moroccan-born used car dealer pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to provide material support to Al-Qaeda, admitting to sending it at least 23,000 dollars, the US Justice Department said.
Khalid Ouazzani, 32, also pleaded guilty to bank fraud and money-laundering charges before a federal judge in Kansas City, Missouri after waiving his right to a grand jury, US Attorney Beth Phillips said.
Ouazzani faces a maximum sentence of 65 years prison without parole, plus a fine of up to a million dollars, the department said.
Prosecutors alleged that Ouazzani, a naturalized US citizen born in Morocco, swore allegiance to Al-Qaeda in June 2008, and admitted to participating in a conspiracy to help the group between August 2007 and February 2010.
“Ouazzani had conversations with others about various ways to support Al-Qaeda, including plans for them to fight in Afghanistan, Iraq or Somalia,” the Justice Department said.
–Agencies