U of Texas Student Guilty of Terrorism Charges

(Austin, Texas) A 23-year-old University of Texas student, Rahatul Ashikim Khan, has pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists.

Investigators say he had been recruiting jihadi fighters through an online chat room. A separate indictment out of a Miami federal court obtained by the American-Statesman complaint seems to shares ties to the complaint against Khan and alleges possible co-conspirators had been funding three groups, designated by the United States as terrorist organizations, that have operated in Iraq, Syria and Somalia.

Khan was one of two men who made international headlines last month after they were charged with the rare federal offense. Michael Todd Wolfe, 23, pleaded guilty Friday, admitting he had planned to join an al-Qaida offshoot gaining force in Syria.

Khan waived a dentention hearing in request of bail this week.

“Rahatul Khan’s admissions during this morning’s guilty plea should serve as a sobering reminder that we need to remain vigilant in our efforts to detect and root out terrorism, even in our own back yard,” U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman said in a statement.

No sentencing date has been reported. Khan faces up to 15 years in prison when sentenced.