NEW YORK Two Americans of Indian origin who admitted their roles in a plot to kill American soldiers overseas were sentenced in federal court in Ohio on charges of terrorism, according to US media reports. US District Judge James Carr sentenced Chicago-born Zubair Ahmed, 31, to 10 years in prison and imposed an eight-year, four-month sentence on his younger cousin, Khaleel Ahmed, who was born in India. Both the men pleaded guilty in January 2009, to providing material support to terrorists. The convictions were related to the case against three Toledo men who were found guilty in a 2008 jury trial of plotting to recruit and train terrorists to kill US soldiers in Iraq. Judge Carr said that he hoped the sentences would send a message to anyone who is tempted to talk about causing harm or waging a holy war against American soldiers. My hope is this sentence in future will be a deterrent to others who might be similarly inclined, he said. With their parents and siblings in the courtroom, both defendants apologised for their actions. I was caught up with the fervour of world events, Zubair Ahmed told Judge Carr. At that time I was looking at US troops as my enemy, which I shouldnt have. Khaleel Ahmed said, I believe the actions I have taken were completely wrong. Investigators said that the cousins travelled to Cairo in March 2004, with the intention of engaging in acts to murder or maim US military forces in Iraq or Afghanistan. The pair returned to the United States and around July 4, 2004, attended a Muslim conference in Cleveland, where they discussed training in counter-surveillance techniques and sniper rifles with an FBI informant. Marwan El-Hindi, who along with Mohammad Amawi and Wassim Mazloum were convicted in the 2008 Toledo terror case, introduced the cousins to the informant. The investigators said the cousins involvement in terrorist activities continued until their arrest in February, 2007. Steven Dettelbach, US attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, said in a statement, The sentences send a strong message that we will aggressively go after those who would do harm to our servicemen and servicewomen. There is no greater priority for us than combating those who would do us harm.