New York man pleads guilty to trying to support terrorism

BUFFALO, N.Y. – A New York man who travelled to Turkey in an attempt to join the Islamic State group has pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization.

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 travelled to Turkey in 2012 and 2014 with plans to meet members of the Islamic State group, first purchasing military combat items including body armour, 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.