Alleged Associate of Al Qaeda Charged in New York

(Newsroom America) -- Minh Quang Pham has been indicted in Manhattan federal court on charges of providing material support to, and receiving military training from, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) as well as possessing and using firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence, and other violations.

According to the indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court in December 2010, Pham traveled from the United Kingdom to Yemen, the principal base of operations for AQAP.

While in Yemen, Pham took an oath of allegiance to AQAP; carried an automatic assault rifle; obtained training from and on behalf of AQAP; helped AQAP to prepare online propaganda and worked alongside two U.S. citizens.

Pham returned to the United Kingdom from Yemen in 2011. He was arrested yesterday and held by British authorities in immigration custody.

The indictment charges Pham, 29, with five counts. Counts one and two of the indictment charge Pham with conspiracy to provide and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Count three charges Pham with conspiracy to receive military-type training from a foreign terrorist organization. Count four charges him with receipt of military-type training from a foreign terrorist organization and count five charges him with use, carrying and possession of firearms (machine guns) in furtherance of crimes of violence.

If convicted on all counts, Pham would face a maximum sentence of life in prison, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 40 years in prison.