US man who sent crypto to ISIS could serve prison till he’s 65

A man from Virginia has been sentenced to over 30 years in prison for sending cryptocurrency to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, a 35-year-old naturalized US citizen born in India, was convicted of conspiracy to provide support to a terrorist organization. He collected and sent over $185,000 to female Islamic State members in Syria, helping them escape prison camps and fund fighting. Chhipa used social media to raise funds, receiving money online or in person, and then converted it into cryptocurrency to send to Turkey, where it was smuggled to Syria. A federal jury found him guilty in December, and he was sentenced by Federal Judge David Novak on May 7. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated that Chhipa directly financed ISIS and that the severe sentence illustrates the consequences of funding terrorism. During the FBI investigation, Chhipa tried to flee the country to escape prosecution, attempting to hide his tracks by using variations of his name and recently created email accounts. He traveled from Virginia to Mexico, Guatemala, and eventually tried to fly to Egypt, but was returned to the US due to an Interpol Blue Notice. Chhipa's actions were seen as a serious offense, with the Justice Department emphasizing the importance of prosecuting those who support terrorist organizations. The case highlights the use of cryptocurrency in financing terrorism and the efforts of law enforcement to track and prosecute such activities.