US | al-Qaeda Brooklyn Man: Yes, I Conspired With al-Qaeda Wesam El-Hanafi pleads guilty, could face 20 years By Neal Colgrass Posted Jun 18, 2012 3:56 PM CDT Updated Jun 18, 2012 4:22 PM CDT Copied In this artist's drawing Wesam El-Hanafi, left, and Sabirhan Hasanoff are seen during their initial appearance on terrorism related charges in Alexandria, Va., on Friday, April 30, 2010. (AP Photo/William Hennessy, Jr.) A Brooklyn man pleaded guilty today to helping al-Qaeda but denied that he sent Casio watches to Yemen to help trigger terrorist bombs, Reuters reports. Wesam El-Hanafi, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy and providing material support to a terrorist group: "In July 2009 I participated in a conversation with others in which we discussed seeking out additional contacts within al-Qaeda," he told a Manhattan judge. Prosecutors say the charges should get him 20 years. But El-Hanafi insisted through his attorney that the Casios—which can be used to trigger bombs—were sent to Yemen as gifts for his family. En-Hanafi was apprehended in 2010 with Sabirhan Hasanoff, 36, a US/Australian citizen who admitted to similar crimes two weeks ago. El-Hanafi will return to court in October but has no sentencing date, thanks to a blood clot in his leg that's giving him health problems. Read These Next New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. Man accused of killing his daughters might be dead. Supreme Court ruling is a big blow to Planned Parenthood. Report an error