Judge’s verdict for Ga. terror suspect expected

ATLANTA — A federal judge is soon expected to announce his verdict in the case of a former Georgia Tech student charged with plotting to aid a terrorist group.

U.S. District Judge William Duffey is scheduled to deliver the verdict at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Atlanta.

Syed Haris Ahmed (sy-’YEHD hah-’REES AKH’-med) faces up to 15 years in prison on charges that he was part of a conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism in the U.S. and abroad.

Prosecutors based the case against the 24-year-old on videos he and a suspected cohort shot of U.S. landmarks. They said Ahmed sought to use the videos to earn respect from terrorist leaders.

Defense attorney Jack Martin countered during the trial that investigators had no evidence that Ahmed sought to act on his talk.