WASHINGTON, Oct 12: A firearms dealer accused of providing guns to a Florida man who planned to attack Islamic centres was sentenced this week to more than four years in prison.

Samuel V. Shannahan, 43, was sentenced to four years, eight months in federal prison, but that time could be shortened by 19 months.

Shannahan pleaded guilty to providing 11 weapons, including several machine guns, to Robert Goldstein, who is serving 12 1/2 years in federal prison for plotting to attack the mosques in retaliation for the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.

“I want to apologize to the court and express my deepest regrets to my family for the pain that I’ve caused them,” Shannahan told District Judge Susan C. Bucklew.

Shannahan, of Dunedin, pleaded guilty twice in the case.

The first plea agreement fell apart when he testified at a sentencing hearing and Assistant US Attorney Colleen Murphy-Davis accused him of perjury and defence attorney Jeffrey G. Brown accused Murphy-Davis of violating a plea agreement.