Cheerleader Tried for Plan to Join ISIS

A Vicksburg, Mississippi, woman who once planned to disguise a trip to join ISIS as a honeymoon was sentenced by a federal judge Thursday to 12 years in prison on a terrorism charge, Fox reported. She had faced up to 20 years in prison.

Jaelyn Young, 20, broke down in tears during her sentencing by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock. Young pleaded guilty back in March to one count of conspiring to provide material support to a terrorist organization.

The daughter of a school administrator and a police officer who also served in the Navy reserve, Young was a high school honor student and cheerleader at Vicksburg’s Warren Central High School. She was also named a homecoming maid.

Her parents reportedly pleaded for leniency at Thursday’s hearing. Sobbing, Young said she was ashamed of her actions.

Prosecutors told a story of a young woman determined to join the terror organization. “Young continually asked Dakhlalla when they were going to join (the Islamic State group) and began to express hatred for the U.S. government and to express support for the implementation of Sharia law in the United States,” they wrote.

Court papers say Young announced her conversion in March 2015 and began wearing a burqa. “After her conversion, Young distanced herself from family and friends and felt spending time with non-Muslims would be a bad influence,” prosecutors also noted.

Muhammad Dakhlalla, Young’s fiancé, pleaded guilty in March to a similar charge and is set to be sentenced Aug. 24, Fox News reported.

Prosecutors have said Young, who converted to Islam while a student at Mississippi State University, had prodded Dakhlalla into the plan.

The two were arrested in August 2015 before boarding a flight from Columbus, Mississippi, with tickets for Istanbul, Turkey.

“I found the contacts, made arrangements, planned the departure,” Young had written in a farewell letter to her family. “I am guilty of what you soon will find out.”

Like many, authorities said, Young and Dakhlalla had developed views supportive of ISIS in part by watching online videos. Social media posts by the two attracted the attention of the FBI.

Authorities said the couple had contacted undercover federal agents via the internet in May, seeking help in traveling to Syria, reported Fox News.

Young told the undercover FBI employees that she and Dakhlalla would like to serve as medics treating the wounded. Dakhlalla said he was good with computers and media and wanted to contribute to the Islamic State’s efforts.

Court papers say Dakhlalla said online that he wanted to become a fighter and learn “what it really means to have that heart in battle.”

At one point, Young said she planned to camouflage the couple’s journey as a honeymoon, but later dropped that idea.

Both remained jailed in Oxford, Mississippi since their arrests.