A U.S. District Court judge will soon hand down sentences against a group of Tamil-Canadians who tried to purchase weapons from FBI undercover agents, which they intended to send to the Tamil Tigers.

In August 2006, Thiruthanikan Thanigasalam and Sahilal Sabaratnam were caught in an FBI sting in Long Island, N.Y., along with two other men, Sathajhan Sarachandran and Nadarasa Yogarasa.

The three Canadian men -- Thanigasalam, Sabaratnam and Sarachandran -- engaged in negotiations to purchase heat-seeking, anti-aircraft missiles and launchers, 500 AK-47s and other military equipment for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the FBI said. Yogarasa was arrested with them but was not charged with taking part in the negotiations.

Two-and-a-half years later, on Jan. 26, 2009, Sarachandran pleaded guilty to providing, conspiring to provide, and attempting to provide material support to the LTTE and conspiring and attempting to provide guided anti-aircraft missiles. Yogarasa pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to the LTTE and conspiring to do so.

The following day, Thanigasalam and Sabaratnam each pleaded guilty to conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the LTTE, as well as to conspiring and attempting to acquire guided anti-aircraft missiles.

Robert Nardoza, a spokesperson for the United States Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of New York, told CTV.ca by e-mail that Sarachandran and Yogarasa were originally supposed to be sentenced today. In court, however, the sentencing was rescheduled for the afternoon of Jan. 22.

Sabaratnam and Thanigasalam are due to be sentenced on Tuesday morning.