[JURIST] California resident Hamid Hayat was sentenced to 24 years in a federal prison Monday following his 2006 conviction [JURIST report] for supporting terrorism and lying to the FBI. Because Hayat [JURIST news archive] had no prior criminal record, US District Court Judge Garland Burrell Jr. [official profile] determined that the maximum sentence of 39 years imprisonment was more than needed to sufficiently punish Hayat.

Hayat was found guilty on three counts of making false statements to the FBI and one count of providing material support to terrorists, and initially faced up to 39 years in prison. It was alleged that Hayat attended an al Qaeda training camp in Pakistan. At the sentencing hearing, Burrell reiterated his belief that Hayat had "attended a terrorist training camp, returned to the United States ready and willing to wage violent jihad when directed to do so." AP has more.