A United States court of appeals has upheld a conviction of a Pinellas County man accused in a terrorist plot. 

  • Federal court upholds prison sentence for Pinellas man in terrorist plot
  • Sami Osmakac is accused of attempting to use weapons of mass destruction, including a car bomb
  • Sentenced to 40 years in prison
  • RELATED: Previous stories on Sami Osmakac

In 2012, Sami Osmakac attempted to use weapons of mass destruction, including a car bomb, grenades, and a suicide explosive, at two locations in the Tampa Bay area, according to federal prosecutors.  

Authorities said Osmakac targeted MacDinton’s Irish Pub and the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Additionally, federal officials said Osmakac possessed an unregistered machine gun.  

In November 2014, U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven sentenced Osmakac to 40 years in prison.

Osmakac's legal team argued that should be lowered due to what they called "unfair surveillance" and a misstatement by the prosecution during closing arguments. 

The court rejected those claims, adding that Osmakac had "demonstrated a commitment to Islamic extremism."