Ulughbek Kodirov from Uzbekistan pleaded guilty on February 10 in a U.S. District Court in Birmingham, Alabama to planning to kill the president of the United States.
Kodirov, 22, said he thought he was acting on behalf of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and had been in contact through the Internet with someone he called the "emir," whom Kodirov believed was from the IMU.
Kodirov said the emir asked Kodirov if Kodirov could do anything about President Barack Obama since Kodirov was located closer to the president than the emir was.
U.S. officials have not commented the emir or his possible connection to the IMU.
Kodirov was detained at a Birmingham-area motel last July, when he was trying to purchase an automatic weapon from an undercover agent.
Kodirov pleaded guilty to threatening to kill the president, possessing an automatic weapon and providing material support to terrorists.
Four other charges dealing mainly with additional threats to Obama were dropped.
His sentencing is set for May 17. Kodirov faces up to 30 years in jail and a fine of $750,000.
Kodirov was in the U.S. illegally after obtaining a student visa but then never enrolling after he came to the U.S.
U.S. attorney Joyce Vance said members of local Muslim community were instrumental in preventing Kodirov from carrying out his plan but Joyce gave no details.
compiled from agency reports
Kodirov, 22, said he thought he was acting on behalf of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and had been in contact through the Internet with someone he called the "emir," whom Kodirov believed was from the IMU.
Kodirov said the emir asked Kodirov if Kodirov could do anything about President Barack Obama since Kodirov was located closer to the president than the emir was.
U.S. officials have not commented the emir or his possible connection to the IMU.
Kodirov was detained at a Birmingham-area motel last July, when he was trying to purchase an automatic weapon from an undercover agent.
Kodirov pleaded guilty to threatening to kill the president, possessing an automatic weapon and providing material support to terrorists.
Four other charges dealing mainly with additional threats to Obama were dropped.
His sentencing is set for May 17. Kodirov faces up to 30 years in jail and a fine of $750,000.
Kodirov was in the U.S. illegally after obtaining a student visa but then never enrolling after he came to the U.S.
U.S. attorney Joyce Vance said members of local Muslim community were instrumental in preventing Kodirov from carrying out his plan but Joyce gave no details.
compiled from agency reports