Illinois man accused of trying to join Islamic fighters scheduled to change plea to guilty

Published May 03, 2016

A 21-year-old suburban Chicago man accused of trying to join al-Qaida-affiliated fighters in Syria is set to change his plea to guilty.

Abdella Ahmad Tounisi is scheduled to change his plea Tuesday at a hearing in U.S. District Court in Chicago. It comes after several weeks of talks between his lawyer, Molly Armour, and federal prosecutors.

Tounisi was arrested at a Chicago airport in 2013 trying to board a flight for Turkey. Prosecutors say he hoped to join Nusra Front militants.

The Aurora man earlier pleaded not guilty to attempting to provide material support to a terrorist group.

Terms of a plea deal between Tounisi and the government haven't been disclosed. Prosecutors typically agree to recommend lower sentences if defendants agree to plead guilty.

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https://www.foxnews.com/us/illinois-man-accused-of-trying-to-join-islamic-fighters-scheduled-to-change-plea-to-guilty