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Boston Bombing Suspect's Friends Indicted On Obstruction Charges

BOSTON (CBS) - Two friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly hampering the investigation.

Read: The Indictment (.pdf)

Dias Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov, both 19 and nationals of Kazakhstan, were charged Thursday with conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstructing justice with the intent to impede the Boston Marathon bombing investigation.

The indictment accuses the two men of going into Tsarnaev's dormitory room at UMass-Dartmouth and removing several items, including Tsarnaev's laptop computer and a backpack containing fireworks after seeing his photo on the news.

Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov allegedly brought the items back to their apartment in New Bedford before disposing of them in a dumpster.

The two men could face up to 20 years in prison on the obstruction of justice count and up to five years in prison on the conspiracy count.

A third alleged conspirator, Robel Phillipos, was mentioned, but not by name in the indictment.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Don Huff reports

Boston Bombing Suspect's Friends Indicted On Obstruction Charges

Earlier on Thursday, Phillipos agreed to waive a hearing, noting that his attorneys were engaged in negotiations with authorities for a possible resolution in the case.

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