A Mississippi woman was sentenced by a federal judge Thursday to 12 years in prison after trying to join the Islamic State in Syria with her fiancé, a journey she disguised as her honeymoon.
Jaelyn Young of Vicksburg pleaded guilty in March to conspiring to provide material support and resources to the terrorist group and faced a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Young and her fiancé, Muhammad Dakhlalla, were arrested before boarding a flight from Columbus, Mississippi headed to Istanbul in 2015. The pair planned to say they were traveling to Syria on their honeymoon.
Prosecutors said Young converted to Islam while studying at Mississippi State University and persuaded Dakhalla to join ISIS with her. Dakhlalla pleaded guilty in March to a similar charge and will be sentenced Aug. 24.
Earlier this month, a North Carolina man was arrested on charges that he attempted to recruit terrorists to launch attacks in the U.S. on behalf of ISIS, according to the Justice Department.
Erick Jamal Hendricks had planned to create a terror cell where attackers would be housed and trained to target Americans, including military personnel, on "kill lists" issued by ISIS, court records said.
He faces up to 15 years in prison if found guilty.