Colorado teen who tried to go to Syria pleads guilty to conspiracy to providing support to terrorists

A 19-year-old suburban Denver woman who federal authorities say intended to wage jihad has pleaded guilty under a deal that requires her to help authorities find others with the same intentions.

Shannon Conley of Arvada, Colorado pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization on Wednesday. She appeared in federal court wearing a striped jail jumpsuit and a brown and black headscarf. She said nothing except acknowledging that she understood the plea and its ramifications.

If she cooperates with authorities, prosecutors promise to ask a judge to reduce her sentence.

Authorities say the nurse’s aide was arrested at Denver’s airport in April as she boarded a flight she hoped would get her to Syria. Agents say they repeatedly tried to discourage her from making the trip to marry a man she met online who claimed to an Islamic State fighter.