A man from Virginia has been sentenced to over three decades in prison after being found guilty of sending cryptocurrency to the terrorist organization known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, a 35-year-old naturalized US citizen originally from India, was handed a 30-year and four-month prison term by Federal Judge David Novak on May 7.
The Department of Justice announced that Chhipa had sent over $185,000 to the Islamic State between October 2019 and October 2022, to aid female ISIS members in Syria. The funds were used to facilitate their escape from prison camps and to finance the group's militant activities.
Chhipa's method of raising money for ISIS involved soliciting funds through social media, receiving donations online, and even traveling long distances to collect contributions in person. He would then convert the funds into cryptocurrency and transfer them to Turkey, where the money would be smuggled across the border into Syria to support ISIS members.
In December, a federal jury found Chhipa guilty of conspiracy to provide support to a terrorist organization, as well as four charges of providing and attempting to provide support to a terrorist organization. Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned his actions, stating that Chhipa had directly financed ISIS in carrying out terrorist activities against innocent civilians both in the US and abroad.
During the FBI's investigation into Chhipa's activities, he attempted to evade prosecution by fleeing the country and taking measures to conceal his whereabouts. Following a search of his residence in August 2019, Chhipa withdrew cash from an ATM, paid for a ride from a stranger at a Taco Bell, and then sought refuge at a relative's house. Subsequently, he purchased bus tickets using false identities and traveled to Mexico, Guatemala, and other countries in an attempt to escape law enforcement.
Chhipa's elaborate escape plan came to an end when an Interpol Blue Notice was issued, leading to his return to the US for prosecution. The case highlights the US government's commitment to combatting terrorism financing and the severe consequences for individuals who provide support to designated terrorist organizations.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by authorities in monitoring and preventing illicit activities involving cryptocurrencies, which can be used by criminal organizations to evade traditional financial regulations. Efforts to strengthen regulations and enforcement mechanisms in the crypto space remain crucial in combating illicit financial activities and terrorism financing.
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