New York City Terror Plot News: 2 Brothers from Pakistan Plead Guilty to Terror Plan

Two brothers from Pakistan residing in Florida pleaded guilty on Thursday to planning terror attacks in New York City and assaulting two deputy U.S. marshals while in custody.

Raees Alam Qazi, 22, and his brother, Sheheryar Alam Qazi, 32, made the guilty pleas in a federal court in Miami.

In the hearing, Raees admitted that he was planning to initiate a terrorist attack in New York City and that he was financially supported by Sheheryar, who encouraged him to launch the attack.

"With today's guilty pleas, Raees Qazi and his brother Sheheryar Qazi are being held accountable for their roles in a plot to conduct a terrorist attack using a weapon of mass destruction in New York City and their assault on two federal officers during their pre-trial detention," said Assistant Attorney General John Carlin.

The two brothers, both naturalized Americans from Pakistan, were living in Oakland Park, Florida, in November 2012 when they were arrested and charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to use explosives.

A federal grand jury added terrorism charges and five counts of conspiracy, assault and attempted murder last January.

Raees pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists in preparation for the use of a weapon of mass destruction, one count of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and one count of conspiring to assault a federal employee.

The justice department said under the agreement, a 32-year prison sentence will be recommended for him.

His older brother pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists in preparation for the use of a weapon of mass destruction and one count of conspiring to assault a federal employee and has been recommended for a 17-year prison sentence.

The sentencing of the two will be held on June 5 before U.S. District Judge Beth Bloom of the Southern District of Florida.

They face a potential statutory maximum sentence of 35 years and 20 years, the justice department said.