HOUSTON, May 24 (Xinhua) -- A Texas man was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday for allegedly trying to sneak out of the U.S. to help al-Qaida.

Texan Barry Walter Bujol Jr. was also fined 10,000 U.S. dollars for trying to give al-Qaida restricted military documents, GPS equipment and money, according to ABC news.

Bujol, 30, was arrested in 2010 while trying to leave the U. S. for the Middle East using counterfeit identification.

He was convicted last November on charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and aggravated identity theft.

Prosecutors said Bujol, a U.S. citizen, sought to join al- Qaida and provide it with money and material support. Prosecutors also said Bujol had been in email contact with Anwar al Awlaki, a U.S.-born cleric with ties to al- Qaida.

Bujol denied the charges and said he was targeted by the U.S. government because he disagreed with its foreign policy.