Originally published on: December 17, 2024
A shocking case has emerged from Springfield, Virginia, where Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, aged 35, has been convicted by a federal jury for funding the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) through cryptocurrency donations.
According to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Chhipa transferred $185,000 worth of cryptocurrencies to ISIS members in Syria over a three-year period, from October 2019 to October 2022.
Court records and evidence revealed that Chhipa’s contributions were intended to assist ISIS in various activities, including the financing of female ISIS members’ escape from prison camps and supporting ISIS fighters on the ground.
Chhipa utilized social media platforms, electronic bank transfers, and cash collections to gather funds, which were later converted into cryptocurrencies and transferred to Turkey. From there, the funds were smuggled to ISIS operatives in Syria, as detailed in the DOJ report.
A UK-born ISIS member residing in Syria was identified as Chhipa’s key collaborator, engaging in similar fundraising efforts to facilitate prison breaks and terrorist operations.
Chhipa has been convicted on five counts, including conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, as well as four counts of providing and attempting to provide material resources to the same organization.
Facing a potential maximum sentence of 100 years in prison if given consecutive maximum penalties for all charges, Chhipa’s fate will be decided at a hearing scheduled for May 5, 2025. The judge will consider various factors, including US sentencing guidelines and statutory mandates, in determining the length of his imprisonment.
In a related development, the DOJ recently brought charges against Maximiliano Pilipis, the operator of crypto exchange AurumXchange, for money laundering activities associated with the infamous darknet marketplace, Silk Road. The exchange allegedly facilitated numerous transactions linked to Silk Road accounts.
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