Virginia man pleads guilty to trying to fund Islamic State

NORFOLK, Va. – A Virginia man who authorities say wanted to carry out a lone-wolf terrorist attack has pleaded guilty to trying to fund Islamic State group terrorists.

The Virginian-Pilot reported Wednesday that 27-year-old Lionel Williams faces a mandatory sentence of 20 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December in federal court in Norfolk.

Williams’ public defender declined to comment. So did federal prosecutors.

The case against Williams began after authorities say pledged allegiance to terrorists on Facebook. Federal agents soon learned the Suffolk man owned an assault rifle.

Authorities say Williams told undercover FBI agents that he wanted to attack “hard targets” such as police officers. Court documents said he also gave informants $250, which he believed was going to fund the Islamic State in Iraq.

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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com