The Latest: India man sentenced in US in terror plot case
RENO, Nev. (AP) — The Latest on the sentencing of a citizen of India who pleaded guilty to conspiring to plot terror strikes in his home country while living in northern Nevada (all times local PST):
2:30 p.m.
A 41-year-old citizen of India has been sentenced to 15 years in a U.S. prison after he pleaded guilty to conspiring while living in northern Nevada to plot terror strikes in his home country on the border with Pakistan.
U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks in Reno also ordered Balwinder Singh on Tuesday to remain under lifetime federal supervision.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Sullivan says a federal immigration judge will determine whether Singh will be deported following his prison term.
Prosecutors say Singh worked with two groups to try to establish an independent Sikh state in the Punjab region. They say he sought asylum in San Francisco using a false identity to elude Indian authorities.
Authorities say the plot was foiled in December 2013.
Defense attorney Michael Kennedy says Singh was tortured by Indian government officials and never posed a threat to the United States.
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12:05 p.m.
A citizen of India who received U.S. asylum and lived in Nevada is facing up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to plot terror strikes in his home country on the border with Pakistan.
Balwinder Singh's sentencing is scheduled Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Reno.
Prosecutors say he worked with two groups trying to establish an independent Sikh state in the Punjab region.
They say he sought asylum in San Francisco using a false identity to elude Indian authorities when traveling back to his home country.
The government is seeking the maximum penalty of 15 years in prison with the possibly of lifetime supervision upon his release.
Singh's lawyers say he was tortured by Indian government officials and was never a threat to the U.S.
