ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A northern Virginia man caught in a government sting trying to join the Islamic State could be sentenced to from five to 20 years in prison.

 

Sentencing for 29-year-old Joseph Farrokh of Woodbridge is scheduled for Friday in federal court in Alexandria. He is one of about a half-dozen men from the region arrested this year on terror-related charges arising from government sting operations.

 

In Farrokh's case, he pleaded guilty to trying to travel to the Islamic State to join fighters there. He was arrested In January at the Richmond airport.

 

Farrokh has since denounced the Islamic State, and court papers spell out in detail how the Pennsylvania native quickly became radicalized.

 

Prosecutors are seeking at least 16 years in prison; the defense is asking for a five-year term.