Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, a 35-year-old Virginia resident, was sentenced to 30 years and four months in prison on May 7.
Federal Judge David Novak handed down the sentence after Chhipa was convicted in December 2024. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed the charges involved sending crypto to ISIS.
Between October 2019 and October 2022, Chhipa sent over $185,000 in cryptocurrency to members of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
Prosecutors said he funded female ISIS operatives in Syria and helped them escape from prison camps. The DOJ said the funds also supported broader ISIS operations.
The man, originally from India and now a U.S. citizen, used social media to collect money. He accepted donations through online platforms and traveled long distances to meet contributors in person.
After collecting the funds, Chhipa converted them into cryptocurrency and sent the crypto to Turkey, where it was moved across the border into Syria.
ISIS Crypto Funding Moved Through Turkey
The DOJ explained that Chhipa used cryptocurrency to hide the source and destination of the funds. This allowed the money to pass through several hands before reaching ISIS members.
According to prosecutors, Chhipa sent the crypto to contacts in Turkey. These intermediaries then smuggled the funds into Syria.
This method helped female ISIS affiliates leave detention camps. The same funds reportedly contributed to other activities linked to ISIS.
The DOJ said Chhipa played a key role in managing this crypto terrorism support network. His actions were tied to a larger effort that financed ISIS through digital assets.
A federal jury found him guilty of one count of conspiracy to support a terrorist group and four counts of providing or attempting to provide support. The DOJ’s announcement said the sentence reflects the seriousness of ISIS crypto funding.
Chhipa Tried to Escape FBI Surveillance
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began its probe in 2019. On August 2 that year, agents searched Chhipa’s house.
Later that day, he withdrew $1,800 from an ATM and paid a stranger at a Taco Bell to take him to a relative’s home.
Three days later, Chhipa booked a series of bus tickets using altered names and newly created email accounts.
His route went from Virginia to Mexico and then to Guatemala. From there, he bought flights to Panama, Germany, and Egypt.
Interpol issued a Blue Notice before he reached his final stop. He was detained and returned to the U.S. before completing the trip.
Prosecutors said the travel pattern suggested he was trying to avoid prosecution and confuse investigators.
DOJ Says Crypto Terror Finance Will Be Prosecuted
In a statement on May 8, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said,
“This defendant directly financed ISIS in its efforts to commit vile terrorist atrocities against innocent citizens in America and abroad.”
Bondi added,
“This severe sentence illustrates that if you fund terrorism, we will prosecute you and put you behind bars for decades.”
The DOJ emphasized that the Virginia man used crypto to support terrorist activities.
The case demonstrates how U.S. authorities are responding to crypto terrorism support and illegal transfers involving terror groups. Chhipa will now remain behind bars until around age 65.
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