NEW YORK (AP) — A man who pleaded guilty in New York to engaging in drug dealing in support of Colombian terrorists has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison.
Federal Judge Barbara Jones sentenced Harouna Toure (huh-ROON' TOHR'-ee) on Thursday. Federal sentencing guidelines called for a 15-year prison term. The judge says Toure deserved leniency because he was interested only in making money and didn't have ideological reasons.
The judge announced the sentence after Toure sobbed as he pleaded for leniency.
Toure says he wants to return to the African country of Mali to care for his wife and two children. He already has served nearly three years in prison.
Prosecutors say he agreed to transport cocaine through West Africa to support al-Qaida and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.
