Mohamed to plead guilty to providing support to terrorists

TAMPA -- Former University of South Florida student Ahmed Mohamed has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of providing material support to terrorists, according to an agreement filed in Tampa federal court today.

Mohamed, 26, faces up to 15 years in prison. A sentencing date has not been set.

"This plea agreement was at the request of our client after a very long and agonizing decision by both him and his family, and it was his decision to resolve this matter through this plea," said Linda Moreno, one of Mohamed's defense attorneys.

Mohamed was arrested Aug. 4 near Goose Creek, S.C., with Youssef Megahed, 22, another former USF student. A sheriff's deputy stopped the men for speeding and searched their car when he became suspicious. He found what prosecutors said were low-grade explosives in the trunk.

A federal grand jury in Tampa indicted both men for illegally transporting explosive material across state lines. Mohamed faced additional, more serious, charges that included accusations of violating his student visa by possessing a firearm, demonstrating how to make an explosive device through a YouTube video and providing material support to terrorists.

Moreno said the plea agreement calls for those charges to be dismissed at the time of sentencing.

Mohamed has been in custody since his arrest.

-Kevin Graham, Times staff writer