Originally published on: December 17, 2024
A shocking case has emerged from Springfield, Virginia, where a 35-year-old man named Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa has been found guilty of financing a terrorist organization, ISIS, using cryptocurrency.
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. The funds were intended to support various activities of the terrorist group, including aiding in the escape of female ISIS members from prison camps and providing resources to ISIS fighters.
Evidence presented in court revealed that Chhipa used social media, electronic bank transfers, and cash collections to raise funds, which were then converted into cryptocurrency and sent to Turkey. From there, the money was smuggled to ISIS members in Syria, with a British-born ISIS member identified as Chhipa’s main accomplice in the illegal scheme.
Chhipa has been convicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and providing resources to a foreign terrorist organization. He faces a potential maximum sentence of 100 years in prison, pending his sentencing hearing on May 5, 2025.
This case is a stark reminder of the lengths to which individuals will go to support extremist groups using modern financial technologies. As authorities crack down on such illicit activities, it serves as a warning to those who engage in illegal financing through cryptocurrencies.
In a related development, the DOJ has recently charged Maximiliano Pilipis, the operator of the crypto exchange AurumXchange, with money laundering offenses linked to the darknet marketplace, Silk Road. This highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat financial crimes in the digital asset space.
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