US Court Convicts Chhipa for ISIS Support Through Cryptocurrency

A federal jury in Virginia has found Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa of Springfield guilty of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS.

Prosecutors disclosed that between October 2019 and October 2022, Chhipa raised over $185,000 in cryptocurrency to support a terrorist organization. The funds gathered through social media campaigns and in-person cash collections were utilized to facilitate the escape of ISIS members from prison camps in Syria and to support fighters.

Chhipa’s main accomplice was a British-born ISIS member based in Syria—this individual coordinated funding for prison breaks, terrorist operations, and the recruitment of combatants. Chhipa converted the collected funds into cryptocurrency and transferred them to Turkey, where the money was funnelled to ISIS operatives in Syria.

The jury convicted Chhipa of conspiracy and several counts of providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. Each charge has a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for May 5, 2025.

U.S. Attorney Jessica D. Aber and senior officials from the Justice Department and FBI announced the verdict, highlighting the government’s commitment to counterterrorism efforts. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anthony Aminoff and Amanda St. Cyr, as well as trial attorneys from the Justice Department.

This news highlights a growing trend of cryptocurrency scams targeting unsuspecting investors. Similarly, Daren Li, a 41-year-old dual citizen of China and St. Kitts and Nevis, is facing up to 20 years in U.S. prison after pleading guilty to laundering over $73 million through various crypto scams, including “pig butchering” schemes. From August 2021 to April 2024, Li used shell companies to open U.S. bank accounts, disguising the funds he obtained from victims. These proceeds were converted into Tether (USDT) and transferred to wallets controlled by Li and his network, with one wallet containing over $341 million, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

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