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Men accused of plotting to join ISIS convicted

Posted at 2:56 PM, Jun 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-03 14:57:59-04

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Three Minnesota men accused of plotting to go to Syria to join the Islamic State group have been convicted of conspiracy to commit murder overseas.

Twenty-one-year-old Guled Ali Omar, 22-year-old Abdirahman Yasin Daud (Ahb-DEER'-ah-mahn YAH'-sin Dah-OOD') and 22-year-old Mohamed Abdihamid Farah were convicted of the most serious charges on Friday.

Conspiracy to commit murder overseas carries the possibility of life in prison.

The three are among 10 young men accused in the conspiracy. Six have pleaded guilty and a seventh is believed to be in Syria.

Prosecutors built their case largely on recordings made by a friend of the men who became a paid informant. Defense attorneys argued that comments on the records were youthful bluster, and family and friends have protested what they call entrapment.