By Steve Neavling
A 24-year-old U.S. soldier, Pfc. Cole Bridges, also known as Cole Gonzales, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for attempting to help the Islamic State group attack American troops.
Bridges, from Ohio, pleaded guilty in June 2023 to charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and attempting to murder U.S. soldiers.
On Friday, a federal judge in New York handed down the sentence, which includes 10 years of supervised release. Prosecutors had sought 40 years for Bridges, USA Today reports.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams called Bridges’ actions “a betrayal of the worst order,” adding that he used his Army training to plot the murder of fellow soldiers in an ambush.
Bridges joined the Army in 2019, but by 2020, he began communicating with an FBI undercover agent posing as an Islamic State supporter. He provided tactical advice, Army training materials, and suggestions for attacks on U.S. forces. In January 2021, he even recorded videos of himself expressing support for the Islamic State.
Bridges was arrested shortly after making the videos. His attorney declined to comment
