In a case that has grabbed attention across the nation, Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, a 35-year-old man from Springfield, Virginia, has been sentenced to over 30 years in prison. Chhipa was convicted of sending more than $185,000 to ISIS, a terrorist group responsible for violent attacks worldwide. His crimes took place over three years, from 2019 to 2022, during which he provided critical financial help to the group.
According to court records, the money Chhipa sent was used to support dangerous activities. It helped ISIS female members escape from prison camps and provided financial backing for ISIS fighters in Syria. Chhipa ran an organized operation, raising funds through online platforms and social media accounts. He received money through electronic transfers and even traveled long distances to collect cash in person.
After gathering the funds, Chhipa converted the money into cryptocurrency, which can be difficult to trace. He then sent the digital currency to contacts in Turkey, where it was smuggled into Syria and handed over to ISIS members. This careful system allowed him to secretly support terrorist activities without immediate detection.
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The Serious Charges and Sentence
Federal investigators uncovered Chhipa’s scheme, leading to his arrest and trial. In December 2024, a jury convicted him on multiple serious charges: one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and four counts of providing and attempting to provide such support. These crimes are treated with the utmost seriousness because they strengthen groups that pose a threat to national and global security.
As a result, Chhipa has been sentenced to 364 months in federal prison — nearly 31 years. This strong punishment serves as a warning that helping terrorist organizations in any form will lead to long-term imprisonment. Officials have stressed that whether someone is directly committing violence or secretly financing terror, the law views both actions as equally dangerous and illegal.
Investigators also revealed that Chhipa was working with a key ISIS member in Syria. This person helped manage the flow of funds and used the money to support prison escapes, terrorist plots, and fighters still active in conflict zones. Chhipa’s role as a financier made him an essential part of this network, fueling violent operations from afar.
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Strong Words from Officials
Following the sentencing, officials condemned Chhipa’s actions, stating that they directly endangered innocent lives in the U.S. and around the world. They highlighted that funding and facilitating terror carries the same weight as carrying out attacks. Law enforcement leaders emphasized that any form of support for groups like ISIS threatens national security and will be met with severe punishment.
They also expressed deep concern that Chhipa conducted this dangerous scheme while living freely in the United States, a country founded on the principles of liberty and safety. They described his behavior as a betrayal of those values, using America’s freedoms to aid a group committed to spreading violence and fear.
The FBI’s Washington Field Office led the investigation, working closely with the Department of Justice to track Chhipa’s financial operations and bring him to justice. After careful work by prosecutors, the jury delivered a guilty verdict, resulting in the lengthy sentence announced this week.
This case stands as a reminder that law enforcement agencies are fully committed to stopping terror financing, even when it is hidden behind new technologies like cryptocurrency and conducted from thousands of miles away.
