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| 3 Somali-Americans Found Guilty of Trying to Join Islamic State | 3 Somali-Americans Found Guilty of Trying to Join Islamic State |
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| MINNEAPOLIS — Three Somali-Americans were found guilty by a federal jury on Friday on charges of trying to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State. | MINNEAPOLIS — Three Somali-Americans were found guilty by a federal jury on Friday on charges of trying to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State. |
| The verdict against the three men — Guled Omar, 21; Abdirahman Daud, 22; and Mohamed Farah, 22 — came after about two days of deliberation and about a year after the men were arrested. All three men had pleaded not guilty. | The verdict against the three men — Guled Omar, 21; Abdirahman Daud, 22; and Mohamed Farah, 22 — came after about two days of deliberation and about a year after the men were arrested. All three men had pleaded not guilty. |
| The men were convicted of several charges, the most serious of which was conspiracy to commit murder overseas. | |
| While the young men sat impassively as the verdicts of guilty were read, family members and supporters began to weep and held their hands to their faces. One woman, sobbing, rushed from the courtroom. | |
| Jury instructions said the government had to show that the men were part of a conspiracy, willful actors who intended “to take the life of a human being” or “to act in callous and wanton disregard of the consequences to human life.” | Jury instructions said the government had to show that the men were part of a conspiracy, willful actors who intended “to take the life of a human being” or “to act in callous and wanton disregard of the consequences to human life.” |
| Prosecutors accused the men of being part of a larger group who met to plot ways to get to Syria. In the 17 days of testimony, the jury of seven women and five men heard from former members of the group and recordings of the defendants that were made by a paid F.B.I. informant. | Prosecutors accused the men of being part of a larger group who met to plot ways to get to Syria. In the 17 days of testimony, the jury of seven women and five men heard from former members of the group and recordings of the defendants that were made by a paid F.B.I. informant. |
| In his closing arguments, the assistant United States attorney, John Docherty, said the three were “exceptionally persistent” in taking part in a conspiracy that started in the spring of 2014. | In his closing arguments, the assistant United States attorney, John Docherty, said the three were “exceptionally persistent” in taking part in a conspiracy that started in the spring of 2014. |
| “These three defendants convict themselves with the words that come out of their own mouths,” Mr. Docherty said, referring to the tapes from the F.B.I. informant. He called the group “exceptionally violent.” | “These three defendants convict themselves with the words that come out of their own mouths,” Mr. Docherty said, referring to the tapes from the F.B.I. informant. He called the group “exceptionally violent.” |
| “There simply is no entrapment in this case,” Mr. Docherty said, trying to dispute a defense claim. | “There simply is no entrapment in this case,” Mr. Docherty said, trying to dispute a defense claim. |
| Defense lawyers attacked the credibility of the members of the group who pleaded guilty and testified for the government. In all, six men have pleaded guilty to various charges, and a seventh man charged is believed to be in Syria. | Defense lawyers attacked the credibility of the members of the group who pleaded guilty and testified for the government. In all, six men have pleaded guilty to various charges, and a seventh man charged is believed to be in Syria. |
| A lawyer for Mr. Daud, Bruce Nestor, told jurors that three men were manipulated by the F.B.I. informant, who controlled which conversations were recorded. | A lawyer for Mr. Daud, Bruce Nestor, told jurors that three men were manipulated by the F.B.I. informant, who controlled which conversations were recorded. |
| A lawyer for Mr. Farah, Murad Mohammad, argued that prosecutors had failed to prove conspiracy charges, saying the three men had taken a humanitarian interest in Syria. | A lawyer for Mr. Farah, Murad Mohammad, argued that prosecutors had failed to prove conspiracy charges, saying the three men had taken a humanitarian interest in Syria. |
| Young men from Minnesota’s Somali community, the nation’s largest, have been a target for terror recruiters. The F.B.I. has said about a dozen people have left Minnesota to join militant groups fighting in Syria in recent years. Since 2007, more than 22 men have joined the Shabab in Somalia. | Young men from Minnesota’s Somali community, the nation’s largest, have been a target for terror recruiters. The F.B.I. has said about a dozen people have left Minnesota to join militant groups fighting in Syria in recent years. Since 2007, more than 22 men have joined the Shabab in Somalia. |
| The trial has engendered a debate over the methods used to catch the accused and appropriate punishment if found guilty. | The trial has engendered a debate over the methods used to catch the accused and appropriate punishment if found guilty. |
| The community in and around Minneapolis has seen about a dozen people recruited by extremist groups. | The community in and around Minneapolis has seen about a dozen people recruited by extremist groups. |