A US citizen from Springfield, Virginia has been sentenced to over three many years in federal jail after being convicted of utilizing cryptocurrency to financially help the Islamic State (ISIS), a bunch designated as a international terrorist group by the US authorities.
In response to a press launch from the US Division of Justice (DoJ), the person, Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, 35, was sentenced to 364 months in jail on prices associated to offering materials help to ISIS.
Conviction and Sentencing Spotlight Scope of Help
Courtroom paperwork reveal that Chhipa was concerned in an prolonged marketing campaign between October 2019 and October 2022, throughout which he funneled funds to feminine ISIS members in Syria. These funds had been used to help with varied actions, together with escape makes an attempt from detention camps and the broader help of ISIS operatives.
Chhipa utilized social media to solicit donations, accepted funds electronically, and at instances traveled important distances to gather bodily money. He would later convert these funds into cryptocurrency, which he transmitted by means of intermediaries in Turkey to be smuggled into Syria to be used by ISIS members.
The DoJ said that Chhipa’s efforts concerned sending over $185,000 in cryptocurrency to help the terrorist group. This monetary help, prosecutors argued, enabled ISIS operatives to proceed their actions.
“This defendant straight financed ISIS in its efforts to commit vile terrorist atrocities in opposition to harmless residents in America and overseas,” mentioned Lawyer Basic Pamela Bondi within the assertion.
FBI Director Kash Patel added that this case underscores the bureau’s dedication to holding accountable all people concerned in supporting terrorism, no matter whether or not that help is monetary or operational.
The FBI’s Washington Area Workplace led the investigation, and federal prosecutors secured convictions on one rely of conspiracy to offer materials help or assets to a delegated international terrorist group, in addition to 4 counts of offering and trying to offer such help. A jury returned the responsible verdict in December 2024, resulting in Thursday’s sentencing.
Crypto’s Function in Terror Financing Attracts Scrutiny
The US Lawyer’s Workplace emphasised the severity of Chhipa’s actions, stating that facilitating monetary help for a violent extremist group whereas residing in a rustic that values particular person freedom represents a critical breach of nationwide safety.
“Those that fund and facilitate terror bear the identical duty as those that perform assaults,” mentioned US Lawyer Erik S. Siebert.
The press launch additionally recognized Chhipa’s main co-conspirator as an ISIS member based mostly in Syria. This particular person performed a task in elevating funds for ISIS operations, together with deliberate terrorist assaults and jail breakouts.
The usage of cryptocurrency on this scheme displays a development in terror financing, the place digital property are actually being exploited for his or her pseudonymous nature and ease of cross-border switch.
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