CHICAGO – An attorney for a suburban Chicago man accused of trying to join al-Qaida-affiliated fighters in Syria says her client intends to change his plea to guilty.
Abdella Ahmad Tounisi's (too-NEE'-seez) attorney, Molly Armour, told a federal judge in Chicago about the change of plea at a Wednesday hearing. She and a prosecutor said the sides expect to seal a plea agreement within several weeks.
The 20-year-old was arrested at a Chicago airport in 2013 trying to board a plane for Turkey. Prosecutors say the Aurora man hoped to join Nusra Front.
Tounisi earlier pleaded not guilty to attempting to provide material support to a terrorist group. A hearing is set for June 30 for him to change his plea.
Prosecutors typically recommend lower sentences if defendants agree to plead guilty.
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