American woman accused of financing terrorist groups via crypto

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A New York woman has been accused of using cryptocurrency to provide financial support to terrorist groups in Syria, a rare lawsuit involving virtual currency to finance terrorism.

The 11-count indictment accused Victoria Jacobs, 43, known as Bakhrom Talipov, of supporting an act of terrorism, money laundering and other crimes.

Jacobs provided material support to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a foreign terrorist organization designated by the US State Department, and provided more than $5,000 to the terrorist training group Malhama Tactical, which fought and supplied special tactical and military training in Hay’at. Tahrir al-Sham, according to the indictment.

“This case marks the first time that terrorist financing has been prosecuted in New York state court and is one of the few cases worldwide where cryptocurrency allegedly financed terrorism,” the prosecutor said. of the District of Manhattan, Alvin Bragg, in a press release.

Jacobs allegedly laundered $10,661 on behalf of Malhama Tactical by receiving cryptocurrency and Western Union and MoneyGram transfers from supporters around the world and sending the funds to Bitcoin wallets controlled by Malhama Tactical. In addition to sending cryptocurrency, she also purchased Google Play gift cards for the organization, according to the indictment.

In October 2018, the defendant recorded notes on her mobile phone, which the indictment quoted as saying “Assalamu aleykum my dear brothers and sisters, we are currently building a new place (train camp), it is cold and we need a new place, who want help us and support can do it securely and anonymously by bitcoin wallet. DM me for more details. Retweet.”

In December 2019, Jacobs provided a comprehensive manual on US military improvised munitions to an online group – which she said was associated with both Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham and the al-affiliated jihadist group. -Qaeda Hurras al-Din – to facilitate their bomb. – making efforts in Syria, according to the indictment.

Prosecutors said Jacobs purchased military-style combat knives, metal fists and throwing stars in August 2021 that were found in his Upper East Side apartment.

“Disturbingly, about a month later, on September 21 and 22, 2021, the accused, in a telegram conversation, claimed to be a “brother” who was “behind enemy lines” and asked for prayers for the “Courage, strength, guidance, and wisdom to carry out certain assignments,” Assistant District Attorney Edward Burns said in a court filing.

“Along with these statements, the defendant posted a 15-second video clip of an unknown man moving ominously with a gun,” he continued. “The timing of this message and the defendant’s acquisition of the weapons supports the conclusion that she intended to use the weapons unlawfully.”

Jacobs is being held without bond.

In a parallel investigation, federal prosecutors in Brooklyn charged four defendants in December with crowdfunding support for ISIS using cryptocurrency, Bitcoin wallets, GoFundMe, and PayPal to collect what they called “money from the blood”.

Copyright 2023 ABC News Internet Ventures.

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