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A jury has officially convicted a man from Springfield, Virginia, after providing support to ISIS through cryptocurrency.
What’s the deal: According to prosecutors, Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, a 35-year-old naturalized US citizen originally from India, was convicted of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. Chhipa allegedly raised and funneled over $185,000 to ISIS operatives and affiliates, particularly to aid women in Syria’s al-Hol refugee camp, which is considered an ideological hub for the terrorist group. These funds were used to facilitate the escape of female ISIS members from prison camps, support ISIS fighters, and potentially finance future terrorist operations. Chhipa worked closely with a British-born ISIS member residing in Syria to smuggle funds and ensure they reached their intended recipients without detection.
To fund these activities, Chhipa utilized social media platforms to solicit donations under the guise of providing “shelter” for women in refugee camps. He collected funds through electronic transfers and cash, sometimes traveling long distances to personally receive contributions. He then converted the money into cryptocurrency, which was sent to Turkey before being smuggled to ISIS operatives in Syria. Evidence presented at trial included thousands of extremist materials found in his home, such as ISIS propaganda, bomb-making instructions, and videos depicting violent acts.
Chhipa’s digital communications revealed detailed discussions with his co-conspirator about evading detection, including using intermediary accounts in Turkey. Undercover FBI agents also documented instances where Chhipa received small cash donations, which he then wired to his ISIS contact in Syria.
Chhipa faces significant prison time following his conviction on one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and four counts of providing and attempting to provide material support to ISIS. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, meaning Chhipa could face up to 100 years if sentenced consecutively. His sentencing is scheduled for May 5, 2025.
More on the camp: The al-Hol refugee camp is a detention facility located in northeastern Syria, near the border with Iraq. Originally established to house displaced civilians during the Syrian civil war, the camp has since become notorious as a holding site for tens of thousands of individuals with ties to the Islamic State (ISIS), including women and children of ISIS fighters. Managed by the Kurds, conditions in the camp are bad, with overcrowding, lack of resources, and ongoing security concerns, as the site is known to harbor and perpetuate ISIS’s radical ideology.
