A U.S. citizen has pleaded not guilty to charges he was plotting to attack post offices, police cars and soldiers returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Jose Pimentel, a Dominican-born Muslim convert, entered his plea Tuesday in a New York City court.

A judge ordered that Pimentel continue to be held without bail and set April 17 as the next court date.

Pimentel, also known as Muhammad Yusuf, has been charged with conspiring to build a bomb for terrorist purposes and possessing tools to wage a campaign of violence.

He faces up to life in prison if found guilty of the charges.

On Tuesday, his lawyers called the case an example of “overreaching.” They said a jury “will see it for what it really is” once both sides of the argument are heard.

Police arrested Pimentel in November on suspicion he was plotting to carry out the attack. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said at the time that Pimentel was inspired by al-Qaida, but that he was working as a “lone wolf” and not as part of a larger conspiracy.