NYC woman gets 18 years in prison for funding terrorism using Bitcoin

A New York woman has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for laundering $12,000 worth of Bitcoin to fund a terrorist group in Syria.

Victoria Jacobs, 44, also known as Bakhrom Talipov, was sentenced to 18 years in prison by a New York State court jury after being found guilty of financing terrorism through cryptocurrency. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said in a press release that Jacobs was “fully immersed in online terrorist ecosystems,” highlighting his assistance in “collecting and laundering thousands of dollars” for Syrian terrorist groups.

“From the safety of his Manhattan apartment, he gave these groups access to our city’s financial markets to help advance their missions.”

District Attorney Alvin Bragg

In addition to providing support for a terrorist act, Jacobs was also found guilty of three counts of conspiracy, money laundering and weapons possession. In the press release, prosecutors said Jacobs sent more than $6,000 to a terrorist group called “Malhama Tactic” and laundered $12,000 by receiving funds from supporters worldwide via cryptocurrency and wire transfers (Western Union and MoneyGram), which were then sent to Bitcoin wallets. told. It is controlled by Malhama Tactics.”

The press release states that Jacobs not only sent cryptocurrency, but also provided a detailed U.S. Army Improvised Ordnance Manual to an online group affiliated with the terrorist organization to help build bombs in Syria and purchased Google Play gift cards for the organization. Prosecutors also explained that in an online forum, Jacobs described himself as a “brother” “working behind enemy lines” and asked for prayers for “courage, strength, guidance and wisdom to accomplish certain missions.”