NORFOLK, Va. (AP) - A Virginia man has admitted he lied about taking a trip to Jordan in a failed attempt to join the Islamic State group.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that Shivam Patel, of Williamsburg, pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to two counts of making false statements. He faces up to 15 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 4.
Court documents and prosecutors say that while texting with an FBI informant in 2016, Patel expressed admiration for a U.S. Army officer who shot and killed 13 soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas.
Later that year, Patel tried to join the U.S. Army and Air Force. During the application process, he lied to recruiters about a trip he’d taken to Jordan in a failed attempt to make contact with the Islamic State.
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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com
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