Four convicted of aiding Somali terrorists

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SAN DIEGO, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- Four Somali nationals have been convicted in California of providing money and support to a terrorist group in their homeland.

A San Diego jury deliberated for three days before convicting the men of aiding al-Shabaab, which has been linked to suicide bombings and assassinations in Somalia, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

Basaaly Saeed Moalin, 36, a San Diego cab driver; Issa Doreh, 56, an employee at a now-defunct San Diego money exchange; Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud, 40, an imam at a San Diego mosque; and Ahmed Nasiri Taalil Mohamud, 37, an Anaheim cab driver, were convicted on multiple terrorism-related charges.

Evidence presented during their three-week trial indicated the men raised about $8,500 for al-Shabaab.

The men had argued during the trial the money was intended for orphanages and schools in Somalia.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 16. Each of the four faces as much as 15 years in prison for conspiracy to provide support to terrorists and conspiracy to provide support to a terrorist organization, and 20 years for conspiracy to launder money.