HOUSTON, TEXAS (BNO NEWS) — A U.S. jury has convicted a Pakistani national of nine counts after his efforts to provide support and funds to the Taliban, authorities announced on Thursday night.

Adnan Mirza, 33, had entered the United States on a student visa and was attending a local community college in 2005 and 2006.

The jury returned its verdicts on Thursday evening, finding Mirza guilty of conspiracy to unlawfully possess firearms, conspiracy to provide funds to the Taliban and all seven counts of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein, who presided over the trial, has set sentencing for Sept. 10, 2010.

Mirza faces a maximum of five years imprisonment for each of the two conspiracy convictions as well as fines of up to $250,000. Each of the five unlawful possession of firearms or ammunition by an alien carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and a term of confinement of not more than 10 years.

Mirza and others engaged in weekend camping and practice sessions with firearms on six different occasions beginning in May 2006 at a location on the north side of Houston to “prepare for Jihad.”

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