Probation Sentence in Minnesota Terrorism Case

Minneapolis, Mn (AP) - A Minnesota woman who admitted to sending $850 to the militant group al-Shabab in Somalia has been sentenced to five years of probation.

Forty-three-year-old Amina Mohamud Esse pleaded guilty in 2014 to conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

She faced up to 15 years in prison, but prosecutors sought probation because of her substantial cooperation, including testifying against two women in a Virginia case who each got more than a decade in prison for supporting al-Shabab.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Kovats says it's the first time prosecutors recommended probation in Minnesota's terror cases. He says other Somali defendants who didn't cooperate have received community support — but Esse has been ostracized for doing the right thing.

Esse told the judge she made a mistake and cooperated to correct it.