A man from New Jersey found guilty of conspiring with the Islamic State has received a reduced prison sentence of eight years. Samuel Rahamin Topaz, 24, was facing 20 years in prison but was handed a shorter sentence after he cooperated with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney General.
Topaz was convicted after being accused of being a part of an ISIS cell that had plans to wreak attack the New York and Newark areas. Standing in court in a prison jumpsuit, Topaz apologized in front of Newark District Judge Susan Wigenton.
"As a believer in God, I've shamed myself," Topaz said. "I've not only hurt myself, but I've also hurt my family, my friends and my country," he added. "For that I truly apologize."
Topaz played varsity football, joined the track team and had a promising future as a student of music. Raised by a devout Catholic mom and an Orthodox Jew dad, his interest in ISIS apparently grew after graduating high school.
It was his mother, Ruth Topaz, who turned him in to the police because she worried Topaz would "do something stupid" after her son got involved with a group of friends she felt were taking advantage of his insecurities.
Speaking in court, she said: "When I see all the things that was happening, I see him dead. I don't want to expose my children to anything."
Police arrested Topaz after a yearlong investigation in 2015 along with Nader Saadeh, Alaa Saadeh, Munher Omar Saleh and Fareed Mumuni.
Topaz had apparently grown distant from his family and contemplated going to Syria. His attorney told the court that Topaz was struggling with problems at home as his father faced deportation when he was inspired to turn to Islam and join ISIS.
