SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- An Iraqi-born man living in California was indicted Thursday on a federal charge that he lied to investigators about travelling to Syria to fight against the government there.
Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab was indicted in Sacramento on one count of making a false statement involving international terrorism.
He was arrested a week ago and remains jailed awaiting a Jan. 22 court appearance. The indictment replaces an earlier criminal complaint with the same allegation, and both carry sentences of up to eight years in prison.
Authorities say the 23-year-old went to Syria to fight in late 2013 and early 2014, but the indictment says he falsely told investigators he was visiting his grandmother in Turkey.
Authorities say Al-Jayab fought in Syria as a teenager before coming to the United States and went to Syria again two years ago, joining a group later affiliated with the Islamic State.
Prosecutors and his defence attorney previously said he planned no violent actions in the United States. His attorney, Ben Galloway, did not immediately return telephone and email messages Thursday from The Associated Press.
