US man imprisoned for violating Syria sanctions

California: A California man was sentenced to 32 months in prison Friday for conspiring to skirt US sanctions against Syria by sending tactical military equipment to jihadists in the war-torn country.

Amin al-Baroudi, 50, a Syrian-born naturalized US citizen, pleaded guilty in January to purchasing tens of thousands of dollars` worth of tactical equipment, including night vision rifle scopes, speed loaders and bullet proof vests, destined for Ahrar al-Sham, an insurgent group fighting to overthrow the regime of Bashar al-Assad.

Ahrar al-Sham frequently fights alongside the Al-Nusra Front, Syria`s Al-Qaeda affiliate that has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States, authorities said.

According to court documents, Baroudi and his co-conspirators traveled with the military goods aboard commercial flights to Turkey and then smuggled them into Syria.

Baroudi was accused of making two such trips in February and March 2013.