Summary
Davud Ansariy, 41, a citizen of Uzbekistan and naturalized U.S. citizen, has been extradited to the United States to face federal charges of conspiring to provide and providing material support to ISIS and the al-Nusrah Front (ANF).
Ansariy, also known as “Kozimjon Gafurov” and “Kozim,” was extradited from Tbilisi, Georgia, to the Eastern District of New York on Sept. 23, 2026. He had been arrested in Georgia in August 2026.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Ansariy allegedly led a network known as the “Tea Party” that raised money and helped arrange travel for individuals seeking to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS or ANF. He is scheduled to face the charges in federal court in Brooklyn.
Key details of the case
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Davud Ansariy |
| Aliases | “Kozimjon Gafurov,” “Kozim” |
| Age | 41 |
| Citizenship | Uzbekistan and naturalized U.S. citizen |
| Charges | Conspiracy and providing material support to foreign terrorist organizations |
| Organizations named in indictment | ISIS and al-Nusrah Front |
| Arrest | August 2026 in Georgia |
| Extradition | Sept. 23, 2026 |
| Indictment | November 2021 |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York |
| Maximum penalty if convicted | Up to 35 years in prison |
| Case number | 21-CR-594 (WFK) |
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DOJ alleges Ansariy led a support network
According to the indictment, Ansariy and others allegedly operated a network of individuals based primarily in Brooklyn who planned to travel to Syria to become fighters for ISIS or ANF.
The government alleges that the network raised money to finance the travel of aspiring fighters and provided other forms of support. Participants referred to the group as “chayxona,” an Uzbek term that can mean “tea house” or “tea party.”
The indictment alleges that the conduct occurred between approximately January 2013 and May 2016.
The group also allegedly collected money to support families left behind by individuals who traveled to Syria, including widows and families of people who were killed while fighting.
At least three people allegedly traveled to Syria
The DOJ alleges that money raised through the group’s collections helped finance the travel of at least three individuals to Syria in 2013.
According to the government, all three are believed to have been killed in Syria.
The indictment alleges that the network’s activities involved providing currency, services, and personnel in support of ISIS and ANF. Both organizations were designated as foreign terrorist organizations at the time of the charged conduct.
Ansariy left the US in 2016
According to the DOJ, Ansariy left the United States for Turkey in May 2016 on a one-way ticket that he purchased the previous day.
His departure occurred five days after one of his alleged co-conspirators was arrested on May 11, 2016. The DOJ said Ansariy remained outside the United States until his extradition in September 2026.
A federal grand jury in Brooklyn returned the indictment in November 2021.
Ansariy was subsequently arrested by Georgian authorities in August 2026 after traveling from Uzbekistan to Tbilisi, Georgia. He was transferred to U.S. custody following his extradition and arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sept. 23, according to a government detention filing.
FBI and international partners investigated the case
The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) investigated the case with assistance from several U.S. law enforcement agencies, including:
- New York Police Department
- New York State Police
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- Port Authority Police Department
- U.S. Marshals Service
The DOJ’s Office of International Affairs, the FBI’s Office of the Law Enforcement Attaché in Tbilisi, and the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia were involved in securing Ansariy’s arrest and extradition.
The prosecution is being handled by the Eastern District of New York’s National Security and Cybercrime Section, with assistance from the Justice Department’s National Security Division Counterterrorism Section (CTS).
Ansariy faces up to 35 years if convicted
Ansariy is charged with one count of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and one count of providing material support.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 35 years in prison, according to the DOJ. The charges in the indictment are allegations, and Ansariy is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The case is docketed as 21-CR-594 (WFK) in the Eastern District of New York.
To read the original order please visit DOJ (Department of Justice) website