Minnesota woman gets probation for supporting al-Shabab
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
A Minnesota woman who admitted sending $850 to the militant group al-Shabab in Somalia has been sentenced to five years' probation.
Forty-three-year-old Amina Mohamud Esse pleaded guilty in 2014 to conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
She faced up to 15 years in prison, but prosecutors sought probation because she cooperated. That included testifying against two women in a Virginia case who each got more than a decade in prison for supporting al-Shabab.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Kovats says it's the first time prosecutors recommended probation in Minnesota's terror cases. He says other Somali defendants who didn't cooperate got community support — but Esse has been ostracized for doing the right thing.
Esse told the judge she made a mistake and cooperated to correct it.
Support Local News
When breaking news happens, MPR News provides the context you need. Help us meet the significant demands of these newsgathering efforts.