California man pleads guilty to trying to help terrorists

SAN FRANCISCO – A California man who allegedly used social media to promote the Islamic State group has pleaded guilty to federal charges of attempting to support a terrorist organization.

Twenty-three-year-old Amer Alhaggagi of Oakland entered pleas Wednesday to four charges, which also include identity theft. He could face decades in prison.

Authorities say Alhaggagi acknowledged that in 2016 he created social media accounts for people he believed were Islamic State supporters.

A court filing said Alhaggagi met with undercover federal agents to plan a potential terrorist attack.

Prosecutors say Alhaggagi possessed a device to make counterfeit credit cards and used a card in someone else’s name to buy more than $1,000 worth of clothes online.