New York

Man to be sentenced for plotting New Year's machete attack

Associated Press
Published | Updated

FILE- This undated file photo provided by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision shows Emanuel Lutchman, of Rochester, N.Y. Lutchman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization in August. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, in federal court in Rochester. (New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE- This undated file photo provided by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision shows Emanuel Lutchman, of Rochester, N.Y. Lutchman pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization in August. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 26, 2017, in federal court in Rochester. (New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision via AP, File) (The Associated Press)

An ex-convict with a history of mental illness faces up to 20 years in prison when he's sentenced for plotting a New Year's Eve machete attack at a New York restaurant in the name of the Islamic State group.

Emanuel Lutchman, of Rochester, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization in August. Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday in federal court in Rochester.

Officials say the 26-year-old Lutchman explored websites related to violent jihad and initiated contact with a now-deceased member of the Islamic State group in Syria in 2015. The FBI says it used paid informants to uncover the plot and take Lutchman to a store to purchase supplies.

Lutchman's lawyer says he never would've been able to take the actions without the informant's help.