Tsarnaev Friend Matanov To Be Sentenced For Misleading Investigators

A friend who had dinner with the Boston Marathon bombers hours after the attack faces a sentence of 2 1/2 years in prison for misleading investigators.

Khairullozhon Matanov was a friend of Tamerlan Tsarnaev and an acquaintance of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. He pleaded guilty in March to misleading the FBI after the 2013 bombings by deleting his computer files and failing to disclose contact he had with the brothers.

Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, Matanov is expected to be sentenced Thursday to 2 1/2 years in prison, subject to approval by the judge.

The Kyrgyzstan native wasn't accused of knowing about the bombings ahead of time or participating in the attack.

Tamerlan Tsarnaev died in a shootout with police days after the bombings. His brother was convicted and sentenced to death.