TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — A former University of Alabama student who pleaded guilty to trying to conceal her attempts to finance terrorists was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison on Wednesday.
Alaa Mohd Abusaad, 26, also was ordered to spend 10 years on supervised release following the prison term, prosecutors said in a statement.
Abusaad pleaded guilty in 2019 to a charge of concealing terrorism financing after she told an undercover FBI employee how to send money to fighters engaged in terrorism and that money “is always needed,” authorities said. She told the agent to use fake names and addresses when sending electronic transfers to avoid detection by police.
The defense argued Abusaad’s childhood and mental health issues made her vulnerable to the dangers of the internet, WBMA-TV reported. Court documents described a young girl ostracized by being the only Muslim family in housing projects in Tuscaloosa, where she faced bullying from other children and a teacher.