A suburban New York man who was thwarted in his attempt to fly to Yemen to join a Middle Eastern terrorist group and then admitted continuing to plot with others to assist them was sentenced today to 25 years in prison.
Marcos Alonso Zea, 26, pleaded guilty in September to attempting to provide material support to al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, also known as Ansar al-Sharia, and obstruction of justice.
Federal prosecutors said the man flew to London on his way to Yemen in January 2012. He was rejected by customs officials in London and returned to the United States. Once home, prosecutors say, Zea continued participating in the conspiracy. He was arrested in October 2013.
US District Court Judge Sandra Feuerstein rejected an appeal for lenience from Zea's attorney, Marc Bogotin, who argued that despite the guilty plea, his client had not actually committed any violent acts that would require him to receive the maximum penalty. Had he gone to trial, Zea could have faced up to life in prison. Bogotin suggested that Zea be sentenced to about 10 years in prison.
Feuerstein appeared dubious at that contention, noting that Zea admitted wanting to assist the terror group.
"Why, if not to support them?" she asked. "Then why was he going there?"
Bogotin countered that there "was no evidence that he intended to fight."
Zea declined to comment when given an opportunity by the judge to make a statement.
