Nicholas Young, a 38-year-old from Fairfax, Virginia, was found guilty on charges of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organisation and obstruction of justice.
The Justice Department said on Friday that Young, the first U.S. police officer ever to be convicted in a terrorism case, tried to help Islamic State by sending gift-card codes that he believed would allow recruiters to securely communicate with potential recruits.
The department said that Young also tried to obstruct a grand jury proceeding by sending a text message to an undercover informant identified as “CHS” to make it seem as though he had gone on holiday to Turkey instead of – as Young believed – joining Islamic State.
Young was caught in a terrorism sting operation after U.S. authorities became aware of his activities four years ago.
Young has argued throughout the trial that he is not an Islamic State supporter.
