ON HOME TURF

U.S. Citizens Arrested in Taliban Conspiracy

Provided money and materials to terrorist group.

The Taliban has some new allies, and they're not from the Middle East: Three Pakistan-born U.S. nationals living in Florida have been charged with giving money and other materials to support the Pakistani Taliban, the Department of Justice declared on Saturday. Florida residents Hafiz Muhammed Sher Ali Khan, 76, and his two sons Irfan and Izhar Khan have been given a four-count indictment of conspiring with and providing aid to a terrorist organization. Hafiz and Izhar are Imams in Florida. If convicted, they all face a potential 15 years in prison for every individual charge, which could amount to 60 years behind bars. "We will not allow this country to be used as a base for funding and recruiting terrorists," said a special agent from the FBI's Miami office. Three individuals in Pakistan with whom the Americans were allegedly in cahoots were also charged in the indictment.