Federal officials say that a Virginia man sent more than $185,000 in cryptocurrency (such as pictured) to the terror group ISIS. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dec. 16 (UPI) — A Virginia man faces decades in prison after being convicted of providing ISIS “material support” via a crypto financial scheme, the U.S. government announced on Monday.
According to a release, 35-year-old Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, of Springfield was convicted Friday by a jury in Virginia on charges stemming from allegations that he gave support in various different forms to the foreign terrorist organization Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or more commonly known as ISIS.
He is expected to be sentenced on May 5 by a federal judge.
Chhipa is an Indian national who later became a U.S. citizen. He was arrested in May of last year in a warrant signed by U.S. District Judge Lindsey R. Vaala of the Eastern District of Virginia, according to court filings.
Over the course of the conspiracy, it was alleged he sent more than $185,000 in cryptocurrency to ISIS.
He was found guilty on one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, and four counts of providing or attempting to provide material support or resources to a “designated foreign terrorist organization.”
Chhipa faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count.
The FBI investi