US citizen guilty of al-Qaeda training

An American man who travelled to Somalia to support Islamic rule there has pleaded guilty to training with al-Qaeda, officials…

An American man who travelled to Somalia to support Islamic rule there has pleaded guilty to training with al-Qaeda, officials said today.

Daniel Joseph Maldonado (28) was arrested in Kenya on January 21st after he and suspected Islamic jihadists fled to escape a US-backed effort to defeat Islamic militant takeover in Somalia.

US Justice Department officials said Maldonado, who also used the name Daniel Aljughaifi, pleaded guilty to a charge of training with al-Qaeda, which is illegal for US citizens.

A US district judge set sentencing for June 29th; Maldonado could receive 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, officials said.