Guilty Pleas From Three in NY Terror Case

BROOKLYN (CN) - Copping to having aided al-Shabaab, terrorist group linked to al-Qaida that's wreaking havoc in Somalia, three men pleaded guilty before a New York federal judge Tuesday.

Madhi Hashi, 25, of Somalia; Ali Yasin Ahmed, 30, of Sweden; and Mohamed Yusuf, 32, also from Sweden, face up to 15 years and deportation from the United States when U.S. District Judge John Gleeson sentences them in Brooklyn.

Feds say Yusuf and Ahmed fought against African Union forces in Somalia between December 2008 and August 2012. Hashi was friends with known jihadist Omar Hammami, a U.S. citizen, and was linked to a known al-Shabaab suicide bomber, the government says.

He's also allegedly shown in an al-Shabaab propaganda video called, "Inspire the Believer."

The three were arrested in East Africa after trying to leave Somalia for Yemen in August 2012. They were extradited to the United States that November.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kelly Currie helped announced their guilty pleas Tuesday.

"The defendants were committed supporters of al-Shabaab, a violent terrorist organization that has demonstrated its capabilities and motives in numerous terrorist attacks overseas, and has publicly called for attacks against the United States," said Currie, who succeeded newly affirmed Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

"We will use every tool at our disposal to combat terrorist groups, deter terrorist activity, and incapacitate individual terrorists around the world," Currie added. "Today's convictions demonstrate that criminal prosecution is an effective tool in our efforts to combat international terrorism."

With their trial slated to begin May 18, U.S. District Judge Sandra Townes had recently granted a request to let the defendants can wear suits and ties.

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