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Three Calif. men plead not guilty in terror plot case

Ralph Deleon, Miguel Santana Vidriales and Arifeen Gojali entered their pleas Wednesday in a Riverside courtroom.

  • By Associated Press

| RIVERSIDE, Calif.

Three California men have pleaded not guilty to terrorism-related charges for allegedly plotting to kill Americans overseas.

Ralph Deleon, Miguel Santana Vidriales and Arifeen Gojali entered their pleas Wednesday in a Riverside courtroom. A trial date was scheduled for Jan. 22.

The three were indicted on a charge of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. If convicted, they each could face up to 15 years in prison.

Federal authorities say the men planned attacks on military bases overseas and were caught as they planned to board a plane headed for Istanbul en route to Afghanistan.

Investigators said the trio was going to meet up with a ringleader, 34-year-old American Sohiel Omar Kabir, who also is facing terrorism-related charges. Kabir appeared in court Tuesday after being returned from Afghanistan.

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