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Feds: NY student sought to join al-Qaida

Wednesday - 6/26/2013, 1:38pm  ET

NEW YORK (AP) -- Federal authorities say a high school student from New York wanted to travel to Yemen to volunteer to fight for an al-Qaida offshoot.

The case against Justin Kaliebe was announced on Wednesday. The 18-year-old pleaded guilty in February to providing material support to a terrorist organization.

Authorities wouldn't say why that plea was kept secret. They say the investigation is ongoing.

A criminal complaint says that during conversations with undercover investigators Kaliebe talked about his desire to join al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula so he could wage jihad, or holy war.

U.S. agents arrested the Long Island resident in January at Kennedy Airport as he was boarding a flight to Oman.
