Pizza shop owner admits trying to recruit for Islamic State

Rochester, Dec 18: A New York pizza shop owner has admitted he tried to recruit people for the Islamic State group.

Mufid Elfgeeh pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization. The 31-year-old Elfgeeh was born in Yemen and is a naturalized US citizen.

He operated a convenience store and pizza shop in Rochester at the time of his arrest in 2014. Under the plea agreement, Elfgeeh is expected to be sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison.

Authorities say he tried to recruit three people to join the Islamic State group to fight in Syria. Two of the people were law enforcement informants.

He was also charged with having silencer-equipped handguns and plotting to kill US soldiers.

PTI