Shezanne Cassim , the American jailed in the United Arab Emirates after posting a video parody , was sentenced Monday to one year in prison and a fine of 10,000 UAE dirhams ( approximately $ 2,700 ) . The young American living in the UAE has been imprisoned since April , his family says , for posting what was intended to be a funny video on the Internet . He was accused of defaming the UAE 's image abroad , according to The National , the country 's main English-language newspaper . The video in question is a 19-minute short that pokes fun at a clique of Dubai teens who are influenced by hip-hop culture . In the 1990s , the label `` Satwa G '' was coined for a group of suburban teens who were known to talk tougher than they really were . The video depicts a look at a `` combat school '' in the suburb of Satwa , where these `` gangsters '' are trained . The training includes how to throw sandals at targets , using clothing accessories as whips , and how to call on the phone for backup . Tight-lipped about charges . Cassim 's family says the 29-year-old has been charged with endangering national security . The charges were not read out in court . UAE officials would only say `` Mr. Cassim was charged under the UAE 's penal code . Anyone charged with a crime under the laws of the UAE is entitled to the fair trial protections contained in the UAE 's constitution . '' Cassim , from Woodbury , Minnesota , moved to Dubai in 2006 after graduating from college to work for PricewaterhouseCoopers . He and some friends made and posted the video online in 2012 . He was arrested in April . He was interrogated and arrested in Dubai before being transferred to a maximum security prison in Abu Dhabi . His family says it was five months before he was notified of the charges against him . 'It was just for fun ' In an interview with CNN on December 5 , Cassim 's brother , Shervon , said Shezanne had made the video for fun . `` It was just for fun . It was -- he 's a big fan of sketch comedies . He 's a big fan of 'SNL , ' 'Funny or Die , ' all those shows , and he and his friends just wanted to make a funny sketch comedy in their spare time , '' Shervon Cassim said . `` There was no indication in local law that making a comedy video , making fun of teenagers in the suburbs , was a threat to the UAE 's national security . '' Family members said they had spoken to him when he was allowed a phone call out . `` He tries to put on a brave face , '' Shervon Cassim said . `` He said that he was doing fine , not to worry about him , but I could just sense that he 's a little depressed -- my impression is that he 's going just a little bit crazy in his cell . ''
Newspaper says Cassim is accused of damaging the country 's image abroad . The video in question is a 19-minute short that pokes fun at a group of local teens . Government officials have not said much about the charges . Cassim 's lawyer says he was in prison for six months before being told of the charges .