US prosecutors have charged a New York woman with using Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies to send funds to the Islamic State group.
Zoobia Shahnaz, 27, was arrested at her Long Island home on Thursday for sending over $150,000 through shell accounts in China, Pakistan and Turkey to benefit IS extremists.
Much of the money came from bank loans and credit cards, the Justice Department said. With that, she bought $62,000 worth of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, which can offer owners anonymity in transfers and payments.
After making the transfers, Shahnaz tried to travel to Syria, prosecutors alleged.
She booked a flight to Pakistan that included a layover in Istanbul, which they called “a common point of entry for individuals travelling from Western countries to join ISIS in Syria.”
Shahnaz was charged with five counts of bank fraud and money laundering, but not for supporting a designated terrorist organization, the usual charge for people helping or planning to help the Islamic State.
AFP
French troops were expelled at the end of 2023, but about 1,000 American soldiers remain…
Iran had repeatedly threatened to strike Israel in retaliation for a deadly April 1 air…
Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel said Coman would definitely miss Wednesday's second leg at home to…
The Red Devils have now won just once in their last seven Premier League games…
Israel will also limit the number of people allowed to gather outdoors to 1,000, with…
Another disappointing performance left Juve five points above fourth-placed Bologna who continue their bid for…