A U.S. citizen and Boston area resident has been convicted of “conspiring to support” al-Qaeda and other terrorism charges after a controversial trial. Tarek Mehanna was accused of trying to serve in al-Qaeda’s “media wing.” He was 27 years old when he was arrested in October 2009 and has been held in solitary confinement. Mehanna was originally courted by the FBI to become an informant. His lawyers argued that Mehanna was acting well within his First Amendment rights in posting jihadist content online and was expressing his own political views, not conspiring with al-Qaeda. But the jury found Mehanna guilty on all charges. The defense says it will appeal. In a statement, the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts criticized the verdict, saying it “undermines” free speech.