A Florida man who pleaded guilty along with his brother to plotting to launch a terrorist attack on New York City landmarks is appealing his conviction and sentence.

Raees Alam Qazi, acting as his own lawyer, recently filed the 21-page appeal in Miami federal court. Qazi pleaded guilty to terrorism-related charges last year as well as assault on a federal officer. He’s serving a 35-year prison sentence.

Qazi contends he misunderstood his plea agreement and that there was no conspiracy because his brother was unaware of his plans. Qazi also claims he didn’t support al-Qaida as charged because he took no direction from the terrorist organization.

The brothers were arrested in 2012 and accused of planning to detonate explosives at New York targets.

(AP)