Local/State

Hearing for men who pleaded guilty in terror case

Monday, September 17, 2012

FILE - This undated combination file photo provided by the U.S. Marshals on June 9, 2010 shows Carlos Eduardo Almonte, left and Mohamed Mahmood Alessa, right, who were arrested at New York's Kennedy Airport on June 5, 2010. Authorities believe Almonte, 24, and Alessa, 21, were headed for Somalia in hopes of getting terrorism training. The two New Jersey men entered guilty pleas Thursday, March 3, 2011 in Newark Federal Court on charges that they tried to join an al-Qaida-affiliated group overseas. (AP Photo/U.S. Marshals, File) (AP Photo)

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terrorism, new jersey, local/state

Associated Press

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - September 17, 2012 (WPVI) -- Two New Jersey men who plotted to join an armed Islamic group in Somalia with ties to al-Qaida are due back in U.S. federal court.

Mohamed Alessa of North Bergen and Carlos Almonte of Elmwood Park pleaded guilty in March 2011 to conspiring within the United States to murder individuals outside the U.S. by trying to join a designated terrorist organization.

They could face up to life in prison. A prior sentencing date was postponed, and a new sentencing date has not been set.