RALEIGH — The brother of a terror suspect serving 45 years in prison for planning to attack a Marine base has pleaded guilty to plotting to behead a witness in his brother's case.

Shkumbin Sherifi pleaded guilty in a North Carolina federal court Thursday to conspiracy to commit murder for hire along with a co-defendant, teacher Nevine Aly Elshiekh.

Prosecutors offered a plea deal to both, agreeing to drop eight other counts if they testified against Hysen Sherifi at his trial next week.

Authorities say Hysen Sherifi asked an inmate to help him hire a hit man. Shkumbin Sherifi and Elshiekh then paid $5,000 to an FBI informant, who provided fake pictures of the beheading.

Shkumbin Sherifi and Elshiekh face up to 10 years in prison when they are sentenced in February.