A federal judge sentenced a Pakistani-born Chicago taxi driver on Friday to 7 1/2 years in prison for attempting to send money to a terrorist with alleged links to al-Qaida, telling the 58-year-old he had violated a citizenship oath made to God promising never to do harm to the United States.

Stepping before the judge in an orange jail jumpsuit and with his legs shackled before he was sentenced, Raja Lahrasib Khan unfolded a piece of crumpled paper and read a brief statement apologizing for seeking to send funds to Pakistan-based terrorist Ilyas Kashmiri.

"I made a bad decision. I did something for which I am ashamed," a somber, visibly distressed Khan told the courtroom in Chicago. "Your honor, I ask for your mercy."

Khan's wife wept on a spectators' bench as he spoke, and his son and daughter were sitting nearby. Several taxi drivers also attended the hearing to express support for their one-time co-worker.