By Joshua Fechter, Staff Writer

A federal judge on Thursday is expected to sentence a Somali man with suspected terrorist ties for lying to FBI agents investigating those affiliations, and to an immigration judge in a failed attempt to obtain asylum.

Abdullah Omar Fidse already has pleaded guilty to the charges and faces up to 10 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery sentenced Fidse’s co-defendant, Deka Abdalla Sheikh, to five years probation Wednesday for lying to the same FBI agents. Sheikh pleaded guilty to the charge in September, admitting Fidse “coached” her on how to respond to questions from immigration officials and FBI officials regarding his background.

Authorities detained Fidse and Sheikh at the Hidalgo port of entry in January 2008. Both claimed persecution in their home country but did not possess identification. Sheikh eventually received asylum, but Fidse did not.

Source:mySA