An American-born Islamic terrorist has been sentenced to 27 years in prison for trying to join the mujaheddin in Afghanistan so that he could kill U.S. troops

The judge called Brooklyn-born Betim Kaziu, 23, a traitor when handing down the sentence. Federal Judge John Gleeson said: "You grew up in Brooklyn and you decided to murder your own country's soldiers. You devoted your life to the cause of destroying this country and all it stands for." Kaziu was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country, conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, attempt to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and conspiracy to use a firearm. A jury found the 23-year-old guilty in July 2011 after just four hours if deliberation following his two-week trial. The court heard that he tried to join al-Qaeda groups in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Balkans, but was arrested before he could make a trip to Pakistan.