By JACQUES BILLEAUD
Associated Press

PHOENIX (AP) - A witness in the investigation of the 2015 attack on a Prophet Muhammad cartoon contest in suburban Dallas has been convicted of making false statements to FBI agents and tampering with a witness.

The verdict against Abdul Khabir Wahid of Phoenix was handed down Tuesday by a federal judge who concluded the lies that Wahid told negatively affected the ability of FBI agents to investigate the attack on a timely basis.

Wahid was a friend of Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, followers of the Islamic State who were killed by police after the pair opened fire outside the event in Garland.

Prosecutors say Wahid wasn't directly involved in the attack.

No one answered the phone when The Associated Press called Wahid on Friday to seek his comment on the verdict.

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