A friend of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was convicted Tuesday of lying to the FBI.
Robel Phillipos, 21, was convicted of two counts of lying during the investigation of the 2013 terrorist attack, according to the Associated Press.
Phillipos lied about being in Tsarnaev’s dorm room at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth on the night of April 18, 2013, while two other friends removed a backpack containing potential evidence three days after the bombing.
The defense claimed Phillipos was too high on marijuana to clearly remember what he did that night, while also being intimidated by law enforcement. His lawyers claimed his confession was coerced by FBI agents.
Prosecutors fought back, telling the jury he was able to remember many details of the night and was lying because he knew he had done something wrong.
The two friends who removed Tsarnaev’s backpack were both convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of justice.
Phillipos’ sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 29, where he will face a maximum sentence of eight years on each count of lying.
He will remain under house arrest until sentencing.
