Detroit Man Jailed for 9 Years Over Bitcoin Donations Intended for ISIS

Jibreel Pratt, a 26-year-old from Detroit, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to concealing Bitcoin donations intended for ISIS. His activities included pledging allegiance to ISIS, sending Bitcoin payments, and providing tactical documents related to weaponizing drones and conducting intelligence operations. Pratt utilized a VPN and encryption software to anonymize his transactions. The case highlights ongoing federal efforts to combat terrorist financing, especially as it relates to digital currencies. Pratt's interactions began in early 2023 with an individual he believed to be an ISIS operative, who was actually a federal informant. He transferred Bitcoin to this source, thinking it would assist with financing travel for recruits to ISIS. This conviction aligns with broader federal initiatives targeting the use of cryptocurrency for extremist ends, following previous similar cases involving substantial sums of digital assets being funneled to terrorist organizations.

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