Arizona Man Gets 12 Years in Prison for Helping Student Join ISIS in Syria

An Arizona man convicted of helping a New Yorker join the ISIS terrorist group in Syria was sentenced on Tuesday to 12 years in prison.

Ahmed Mohammed el-Gammal, 48, a suburban Phoenix man who sold car parts, was sentenced by Judge Edgardo Ramos in Manhattan federal court.

Gammal was convicted last year for helping Samy el-Goarany, who flew to Turkey in January 2015 and made his way to Syria. Gammal was arrested in August 2015, months before Goarany's brother was informed that Goarany, a Baruch College student, was killed fighting for ISIS.

"The consequences of Mr. Gammal's conduct were tragic indeed," Ramos said, because the 24-year-old student he helped reach Syria in 2015 was eventually killed in combat.

Yet, he said Gammal was not the "typical terrorism suspect ... the type of true believer" and he doubts he'll commit another crime.

According to prosecutors, Gammal and Goarany communicated extensively on the internet in the months before the student flew to Turkey and made his way to Syria days later to begin his military training.

The trial was the first ISIS-related prosecution to occur in Manhattan federal court.

During Gammal's trial, defense lawyers argued that Goarany would have reached Syria anyway as he looked for meaning in life to erase his own feelings of inadequacy. They noted that others, including relatives, were unable to stop him from joining ISIS.

Ramos stressed there was no question that Goarany was "very set on traveling to Syria," with or without el-Gammal's help.

When he spoke before the sentence was announced, Gammal told the judge that he is a "proud American."

"I love this country," he said repeatedly. "I ask for forgiveness and mercy."