A federal choose sentenced Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa to 30‑years and 4‑months in jail. The Division of Justice disclosed on Could 9 that Chhipa transferred over $185,000 in cryptocurrency to Islamic State handlers.
He operated the community from October 2019 via October 2022. The cash he collected was wired on-line and in particular person, then transformed into crypto and forwarded to handlers in Turkey.
Funding The ISIS
Based on experiences, Chhipa’s wire transfers weren’t insignificant. Greater than $185,000 went via his accounts over three years. A few of that money went to pay ISIS militants’ wages. A few of it funded feminine members to flee from jail. He used routine instruments—telephones and electronic mail—right into a terror group’s funding pipeline.
Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, 35, of Springfield, was sentenced yesterday to 30 years and 4 months in jail for offering materials assist to ISIS. https://t.co/a8Ean2kAzH
— U.S. Legal professional EDVA (@EDVAnews) Could 8, 2025
Techniques Used To Evade Detection
Prosecutors indicated that Chhipa had the experience of masking his path. He used misspelled electronic mail pseudonyms to hide his identification. He modified telephones and opted for phony names when he reserved transportation.
He even drew the attention of Interpol. Authorities notified him on a Blue Discover after he tried to cross from Mexico to Egypt. He was convicted by a jury in December 2024 on one depend of conspiracy and 4 expenses of creating materials assist to a listed terrorist group.
Different Seizures And Blacklists
The Chhipa case just isn’t an remoted incident. On March 27, the Justice Division seized roughly $200,000 in crypto related to wallets operated by Hamas. Based on DOJ experiences, these wallets had laundered over $1.5 million since October 2024.
At roughly the identical time, the Treasury’s Workplace of Overseas Belongings Management blacklisted eight addresses. They report that Yemen’s Houthis used these wallets to buy weapons and evade sanctions.
International Effort To Combat Crypto Abuse
Primarily based on Chainalysis figures, extremist teams obtained not less than $24.2 billion in cryptocurrency in 2023. It’s a low proportion of total illicit crypto stream, however it nonetheless helps violence.
The United Nations’ Counter‑Terrorism Committee cautioned that, left unchecked, terrorists could shift from money and bullets to all-digital funding. Officers are calling for tighter anti‑cash‑laundering rules and better collaboration between governments and crypto firms.
In sentencing Chhipa to a long run, US judges are setting a boundary. They’re stating that crypto received’t be used otherwise from cash when it assists terror teams. The case is highlighting an growing view: for those who fund terror, face time behind bars—no matter the way you switch the cash.
Featured picture from The Atlantic, chart from TradingView
Editorial Course of for bitcoinist is centered on delivering completely researched, correct, and unbiased content material. We uphold strict sourcing requirements, and every web page undergoes diligent evaluation by our crew of prime know-how consultants and seasoned editors. This course of ensures the integrity, relevance, and worth of our content material for our readers.
