A New York woman has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for laundering $12,000 in Bitcoin to fund a terrorist group in Syria.
Tl;dr
- Victoria Jacobs, also known as Bakhrom Talipov, sentenced to 18 years in prison.
- Financed terrorism through cryptocurrency.
- Facilitated terrorist groups’ access to US financial markets.
- Jacobs also provided a munitions manual to a group linked to the terrorist organization.
Terrorism Financing via Cryptocurrency: a Woman Accused
The US judicial system has sentenced Victoria Jacobs, also known as Bakhrom Talipov, to 18 long years in prison. The reason for this sentence: terrorism financing through cryptocurrency. This 44-year-old woman was found guilty by a New York State court.
Serious Accusations with Severe Consequences
According to a press release from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, Jacobs was “fully immersed in online terrorist ecosystems”. She was convicted of three counts of supporting an act of terrorism, as well as conspiracy, money laundering, and criminal possession of a weapon. This lamentable process, Jacobs carried out from the safety of her Manhattan apartment, as highlighted by Prosecutor Alvin Bragg.
Technical and Financial Support to Terrorist Groups
Jacobs was identified as the main source of funding for the “Malhama Tactical” terrorist group. The charges include sending over $6,000 to this group and laundering $12,000 through transfers using cryptocurrency and bank transfer (via Western Union and MoneyGram). The transfers were then sent to Bitcoin wallets controlled by the said terrorist group.
Beyond financing, Jacobs is also accused of providing a detailed manual of US military ammunition to a group affiliated with the terrorist organization. From buying Google Play gift cards to identifying as a “brother” operating “behind enemy lines,” her involvement goes far beyond mere financial support. Jacobs has proven to be a real pillar in the infrastructure of these terrorist networks. She constantly leveraged her position to provide terrorist groups with the necessary resources for their destructive mission.