“Maybe I was confused, but my intent was to be part of the solution,” Alebbini said. “I just want to ask you for mercy and leniency for me. … you will never regret it.”
RELATED: Attorney opposes 40-year sentence for Dayton ‘thought crime’ terrorism suspect
Addressing the court during a sentencing hearing, Alebbini disputed prosecutors’ characterizations of his thinking and said he admires the United States and hopes for a United States of Arabia.
Alebbini said many Islamic groups like ISIS favor that ideology.
“I would never kill innocent people because of that,” he said. “I agree with the agenda but disagree with the violence.”
RELATED: Area man found guilty of attempting to join ISIS
Alebbini was found guilty after a bench trial in December of conspiracy and attempting to provide material support for a foreign terrorist organization.
Alebbini’s federal public defender Thomas Anderson has advocated for a sentence of time served (nearly two years) and denounced the 30- to 40-year range he said has been proposed by pretrial services and prosecutors.
Anderson wrote in a sentencing memorandum that the sentencing calculation for Alebbini’s crimes would be 63 to 78 months if not for a terrorism enhancement that bumps it to 360 to 480 months.
READ MORE : Final arguments made in case of Dayton man who allegedly tried joining Islamic State
Anderson wrote that prosecutors should have to prove the enhancement is proper and that “the government cannot meet this burden.”
Federal prosecutors have not yet filed their sentencing memo but reiterated Friday about all the statements and actions they said mean Alebbini was a would-be terrorist.
A cousin who grew up with Alebbini in Jordan testified by telephone from Canada. Mohammad Ababneh said Alebbini was “all talk” and “incapable” of violence. Alebbini has no criminal history.
RELATED: Prosecution cites texts; defense says ISIS communication never happened
Ababneh said Alebbini had been depressed over being unemployed, was smoking marijuana regularly and felt like a “major disappointment” to their family.
Alebbini was arrested by the FBI on April 26, 2017, at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, as he approached the TSA security checkpoint.
Prosecutors said Alebbini had tickets for a flight to Jordan with a connection in Istanbul, Turkey, where he planned to get off the plane and instead go from Turkey into Syria.
RELATED: Trial begins for Dayton man accused of being ISIS recruit
RELATED: Dayton man accused of trying to join ISIS waives jury trial
RELATED: Dayton terrorism suspect wants access to surveillance records
RELATED: Terrorism suspect asks for release from jail before trial
RELATED: Dayton man ‘perfect ISIS recruit’ to be detained before trial
MORE: Read other stories from Mark Gokavi
About the Author