HOUSTON, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- A Texas man who converted to Islam and made repeated attempts to travel to the Middle East has been convicted of trying to aid al-Qaida terrorists.
Barry Bujol will face sentencing in February and could be sent to federal prison for 20 years without parole, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday.
At his trial, prosecutors produced secret recordings and the testimony of an informant to show Bujol not only sought to join al-Qaida but also provide the terrorist group with equipment such as compasses, GPS trackers and cellular-phone equipment.
Bujol was arrested in May 2010 after sneaking aboard a ship in the Port of Houston he believed would take him to the Middle East and a rendezvous with members of al-Qaida.
Bujol, who fired his court-appointed counsel and served as his own lawyer in the case, had insisted he was traveling to the Middle East to learn Arabic and teach English.
