Tampa man gets 18 years in prison in terrorism case that involved spy planes

A Tampa man who pledged his allegiance to Islamic militants and planned attacks in the Tampa Bay area was sentenced Thursday to 18 years in federal prison.

Muhammed Momtaz AlAzhari, 26, pleaded guilty in February to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. A plea deal struck with federal prosecutors called for a prison sentence of 18 years. During Thursday’s hearing in Tampa, U.S. District Judge Thomas P. Barber approved the deal and granted prosecutors’ request for lifetime government supervision after AlAzhari’s release.

The sentence ends a case that that for nearly three years saw intense and complex litigation of issues related to government surveillance, searches and the defendant’s mental health.

Read more: Tampa Bay Times