An American was sentenced to 30 years in prison for financing ISIS through cryptocurrency
Date: 2025-05-09 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: IN WORLD
Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, a 35-year-old resident of Virginia, was sentenced to 30 years and four months in prison for transferring $185,000 worth of cryptocurrency to the ISIS terrorist organization. This was reported by the US Department of Justice.
The investigation established that from 2019 to 2022, Chhipa attracted donations through social networks and personal contacts, then transferred the funds to cryptocurrency and sent them to Syria via Turkey. This money was used by militants to escape from the camps and finance terrorist activities.
The federal court found Chhipa guilty in December 2024 on five counts, including conspiracy. According to Attorney General Pam Bonda, he "directly facilitated the crimes of ISIS."
The FBI's investigation showed that the accused attempted to escape. He withdrew $1,800, bought bus tickets under different names, flew first to Mexico, and then to Guatemala. From there he planned to get to Egypt, made transfers in Panama and Germany. However, thanks to the intervention of Interpol, Chhipa was deported back to the United States.
To establish links between transactions and terrorist activities, investigators used blockchain analysis. Undercover operatives and informants confirmed the data, provided recordings where Chhipa openly expressed his support for ISIS.
According to the prosecutor's office, the request to flee became an aggravating circumstance and affected the toughening of the sentence. Thus, the convicted person will be released only at the age of 65.
Earlier, in March 2025, the US Department of Justice also announced the suppression of a second terrorist financing scheme: then $201,400 in cryptocurrencies related to the activities of Hamas was seized.
