A former Army soldier accused of trying to provide support to a terrorist organization in Somalia after he left the military pleaded guilty Monday in connection with the case.
Craig Baxam of Laurel, Md., admitted to to destroying records that might be used in a terrorism investigation.
He was arrested in Kenya in late 2011. Prosecutors say he was on his way to neighboring Somalia to join the terrorist group al-Shabab.
Before he left the U.S., he destroyed his personal computer and threw the remains in a dumpster. Baxam told authorities he didn't want any record left behind, and that he wanted to maintain a low profile.
He also told authorities that he purchased a round-trip plane ticket to Kenya, although he had never planned to return to the U.S., so he wouldn't catch the the attention of the FBI and American military.
Baxam will serve seven years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
