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

Jibreel Pratt, a Detroit man, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for attempting to finance ISIS through Bitcoin donations. Pratt, aged 26, pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to the terrorist organization after he initiated contact with someone he believed was an ISIS operative, who was actually a federal informant. Among his actions, Pratt recorded a video pledging allegiance to ISIS and transferred Bitcoin to the informant in hopes of aiding recruits and future operations. His communications included detailed notes on drone weaponization and operational strategies. He employed privacy tools, including a VPN and encryption software, to conceal his activity. The sentence is part of a broader federal initiative to counter the use of cryptocurrencies for funding extremist groups, amid ongoing efforts to dismantle such digital financing networks.

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