A Virginia man has been sentenced to over 30 years in prison for his role in financing ISIS operations. Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, 35, from Springfield, Virginia, was convicted for providing material support to ISIS, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Between October 2019 and October 2022, Chhipa raised and sent more than $185,000 to ISIS members, using cryptocurrency to funnel the money across international borders.
Chhipa’s actions included supporting the escape of ISIS female fighters from Syrian prison camps and aiding other terrorist activities. He used social media to gather funds, receiving electronic transfers and traveling to collect additional money in person. Once collected, he converted the funds to cryptocurrency, which he sent to Turkey, where it was smuggled into Syria for ISIS members.
The sentencing follows a December 2024 conviction by a federal jury, which found Chhipa guilty of conspiracy and multiple counts of providing support to a terrorist organization. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, the case demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to investigating and holding accountable those who provide material support to terrorist groups.
“This severe sentence shows that financing terrorism will lead to decades in prison,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi, highlighting the gravity of Chhipa’s actions. U.S. Attorney Erik S. Siebert emphasized that those who finance terror share the same responsibility as the perpetrators of violence.
Chhipa’s primary co-conspirator was an ISIS member in Syria, responsible for raising funds for escapes, attacks, and supporting ISIS fighters. The case was investigated by the FBI’s Washington Field Office, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony T. Aminoff and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda St. Cyr.
