An Albanian immigrant who had obtained US citizenship and lived in the Bronx has been sentenced to 22 years in prison yesterday after admitting terrorism charges.
Sajmir Alimehmeti, 26, admitted in February last year that he had donated material aid to the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq.
Born in Albania, he had found a job in New York as a plumber helper and was preparing to work in a funeral home.
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| Sajmir Alimehmeti in the Court |
However, in May 2016, he was arrested by the Joint Terrorism Task Force in the Bronx and indicted for material assistance to ISIS. According to the indictment, he was collecting various fighting knives that could be used in a possible terrorist attack. He had even attempted to travel to the Middle East on his own to become an ISIS member but was twice prevented by British authorities in 2014.
An ISIS flag, videos of the terrorist group and propaganda material has been found in his home.
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| Sajmir Alimehmeti while being arrested |
Even in prison, following his arrest, Alimehmet appears to have continued his work for ISIS by spreading ISIS propaganda among the prisoners, in collaboration with the convicted Ahmad Khan Rahimi of planting a bomb in the Chelsea neighborhood.
Judge Paul A. who ruled out his prison sentence Friday considered the Albanian as "a time bomb".
