New Yorkers raised money through GoFundMe to buy cryptocurrency for ISIS
'16.12.2022'
Nadezhda Verbitskaya
The defendants collected and transferred about $35 using cryptocurrencies and other electronic means to bitcoin wallets and accounts that financed ISIS. It is reported justice.com.
On December 14, a federal court in Brooklyn released a criminal case accusing Mohammad David Hashimi, Abdullah Al-Taki, Khalilullah Yusuf and Seema Rahman of conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Hashimi, Taki and Rahman were arrested in the morning in Virginia, New York and New Jersey. Yusuf was detained in Canada by local law enforcement in accordance with a preliminary arrest request from the United States. Taki and Rahman first appeared in federal court in Brooklyn before U.S. Chief Justice of the Peace Sheryl L. Pollak. Hashimi made his first appearance in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia before U.S. Justice of the Peace Ivan Davis. And he was ordered to remain in custody pending trial.
“This crowdfunding network has used cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin wallets, GoFundMe and PayPal to raise and raise money in support of ISIS. And not for needy families, as they claimed, trying to deceive law enforcement agencies, - said US Attorney Breon Mir. “I salute our prosecutors and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York. They broke through the veil of secrecy to identify the perpetrators of this scheme, reveal the true nature of these virtual money transfers, and bring to justice those who seek to facilitate acts of violent extremism.”
On the subject: Brooklyn-based Uzbek sentenced to 15 years in prison for aiding ISIS
As stated in the complaint, Hashimi and Yusuf were members of a group chat (referred to as “Group Chat-1” in the complaint) on an encrypted social network.
Also, a mobile messaging electronic communication service that facilitated communication between ISIS supporters and other groups. In early April 2021, members of the Chat-1 group were discussing posting donation links purporting to be for humanitarian purposes. But in fact they were sent to help the Mujahideen. This Arabic term, which translates to “holy warriors,” is used by ISIS supporters to refer to ISIS fighters. Yusuf provided a link to a specific Bitcoin address, and another member of Group Chat-1 posted a link to PayPal. Both of these companies were controlled by the person identified in the complaint as Intermediary-1.
In conversations with a confidential source, Taki and Helper-1 discussed the possibility of donating money to support ISIS militants. When a confidential source asked Contributor-1 to provide evidence that the donated money was going to support ISIS, Contributor-1 sent screenshots and videos to the confidential source. They feature tactical equipment, ammunition and grenades over the ISIS flag.
Contributor-1 reported that the descriptions of charity in fundraising campaigns were actually “a hoax for the infidels”
Between February 2021 and July 2022, the defendants raised and contributed more than $35 through a combination of cryptocurrency and other sources. The defendants deposited more than $000 to Collaborator-24's bitcoin address, with Yusuf $000, Taki $1, and Rahman $20. The defendants also sent more than $347,89 to a PayPal account linked to Intermediary-2, with Rahman transferring about $769,35, Taki about $927,51, and Hashimi about $1. In addition, Yusuf and Rahman set up several GoFundMe fundraising companies, ostensibly to raise money for charity. Hashimi contributed $000 and Taki contributed $1 through Yusuf's GoFundMe companies. And Rahman has raised about $550 through GoFundMe companies she created. Then, through Western Union, she transferred the proceeds (about $480) to individuals associated with Intermediary-55.
Hashimi has, among other things, made statements indicating his desire to die in combat or in a terrorist attack on behalf of a foreign terrorist organization. For example, in November 2020, Hashimi told another confidential source over an encrypted connection that he had “decided to make Hijra to Afghanistan to join the Daula.” In other words, go on a journey to join ISIS. Around September 2021, Hashimi said “I just want Janna”, i.e. heaven or afterlife, “and die on the battlefield”. Hashimi has provided financial support to numerous individuals who have been convicted of federal crimes of terrorism. From December 2021 to October 2022, Hashimi transferred over $2000 to a terrorist accused via JPay.
The allegations contained in the complaint are allegations. And the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The case is handled by the Office of Homeland Security and Cybercrime Division. Assistant US Attorneys Douglas M. True, Ian K. Richardson and Nina Gupta are leading the prosecution, while defense attorneys Daniel Gardner and Alexandra Hughes of the Terrorism Division are defending.
