A federal jury delivered a decisive blow to terror financing on Friday, convicting Abdullah At Taqi, 26, of Queens, on all counts for conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and conspiring to launder money.
The verdict follows a detailed investigation that exposed the defendant’s sophisticated use of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to bankroll the designated foreign terrorist organization.
At Taqi, along with co-defendant Mohamad David Hashimi, channeled thousands of dollars to an ISIS member, Osama Obeida, over nearly a year. Hashimi, whose jury selection was slated to begin on October 6, previously pled guilty to all charges. A third defendant, Seema Rahman, also pled guilty earlier this year.
Digital Dollars for Death and Destruction
Prosecutors presented compelling evidence demonstrating At Taqi’s role as a financial pipeline for ISIS. Over the course of the conspiracy, he sent 15 separate Bitcoin transactions to Obeida, whom he confirmed in conversations was “from Dawlah”—a reference to ISIS.
The defendants were meticulous, believing that electronic currency would allow their transfers to go “unnoticed.” At Taqi confessed to an online confidential source (CHS-1) that he was using a “brother,” or ISIS supporter, on an encrypted platform to send the funds.
This “brother” was Obeida, who vouched for the money’s purpose by sending a photograph of an ISIS flag and weapons to CHS-1, asserting that money from supporters was used to procure arms for fighters.
“Their intent was to procure weapons for terrorism and now their actions will result in incarceration,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, underscoring the severity of the crimes.
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Shell Games and Security Warnings
The scheme was not limited to direct Bitcoin transfers. Evidence showed the co-conspirators employed various financial platforms, including PayPal and even seemingly innocuous GoFundMe campaigns, to raise and divert funds. Members of an encrypted ISIS supporters’ group chat, which included Hashimi, discussed posting links for purported “humanitarian causes” to secretly funnel the money to the mujahideen (ISIS fighters).
However, even in their secretive online world, the conspirators worried about detection. Hashimi cautioned others in the group chat to be careful sending links, warning they could be “detected and arrested by law enforcement.”
In total, the conspirators transferred more than $24,000 to Obeida’s Bitcoin address and over $1,000 to his PayPal account, with the bulk of the money contributed by co-conspirators. Rahman also raised approximately $10,000 through deceptive GoFundMe campaigns, wiring the proceeds via Western Union.
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Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stressed the Department’s commitment: “This conviction reflects the Department’s commitment to holding accountable those who knowingly finance terrorism.”
At Taqi and Hashimi now face a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison at sentencing for their attempts to fuel the terror and instability unleashed by ISIS. The FBI New York Field Office continues to investigate the case, ensuring the pipeline for terrorist financing is fully disrupted.
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