California man pleads guilty to terror count, admits trying to assist al-Qaida

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles U.S. attorney's office says a Southern California man has admitted attempting to assist al-Qaida and has pleaded guilty to a federal terrorism offense.

Prosecutors say 24-year-old Sinh Vinh Ngo Nguyen of Garden Grove pleaded guilty Friday to one count of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Officials say Nguyen intended to assist al-Qaida by traveling to Pakistan to provide weapons training to members of the terrorist group.

Nguyen will be sentenced on March 21 and faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison.