Fourteen years in prison for American soldier who wanted to help IS

An American soldier who pleaded guilty to providing information to Islamic State to help it attack American forces in the Middle East was sentenced Friday to 14 years in prison.

Cole Bridges, 24, pleaded guilty last June to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and attempting to assassinate U.S. service members.

Bridges, a top Ohio private citizen, was sentenced Friday to 14 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release, the Justice Department said in a statement.

According to court documents, Bridges, who joined the military in 2019, went from consuming online jihadist propaganda to trying to provide information to help IS, which once controlled parts of Iraq and Syria.

In October 2020, Bridges began communicating with an FBI employee posing as an ISIS supporter, the Justice Department said.

“During these communications, Bridges expressed his frustration with the U.S. military and his desire to assist ISIS,” the department said.

Bridges provided “training and guidance” to suspected IS fighters, including advice on potential targets in New York City, it said, and information on “how to attack U.S. forces in the Middle East.”

In January 2021, Bridges, who was stationed at Fort Stewart in Georgia, sent a video to the undercover FBI employee of himself in body armor, standing in front of a flag used by ISIS fighters.