US woman charged with funding terrorist groups in Syria using BTC
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – A US woman was found guilty for financially supporting terrorist groups in Syria using cryptocurrency, money laundering and other crimes, ABC News said on Thursday.
ABC News added, citing the indictment, that Victoria Jacobs, 43, had funded Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) and provided it with special tactical and military training with more than $5.000.
The US State Department designated HTS a foreign terrorist organization.
“This case … is one of the rare cases worldwide where cryptocurrency is alleged to have financed terrorism,” the ABC News said, quoting Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
In addition, Jacobs, who is being held without bail, allegedly laundered $10.661 on behalf of Malhama Tactical group by receiving cryptocurrency, Western Union and MoneyGram wires from supporters around the world and sending the funds to Bitcoin wallets controlled by the group.
Malhama Tactical is a terrorist training group which fought with and provided special tactical and military training to the HTS in Syria.
A federal judge in the US sentenced on Jan. 24 a female Army veteran to three years in prison after she pleaded guilty to sending money and providing guidance to a terrorist in Syria with whom she fell in love.
She was involved in the concealment of attempted provision of funds or other material support or resources to terrorist factions, including Jabhat Fath al-sham and HTS in Syria.