DETROIT – A 26-year-old man from Detroit has pleaded guilty to concealing cryptocurrency donations he attempted to make to ISIS.
According to authorities, Jibreel Pratt initiated a conversation in February 2023 with an informant he believed was a member of ISIS who could help him travel overseas to join ISIS. Over several months, Pratt pledged allegiance to ISIS and shared ideas on how the group could use drones and remote-controlled cars to deliver explosives, organize intelligence operations and improve air defense systems.
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In March and May 2023, Pratt sent cryptocurrency to the informant. He intended the funds to help pay for the travel of others joining ISIS and to support an individual he believed would commit an act of violence on behalf of the group. Pratt concealed the transfers by using a virtual private network and an app that encrypted private keys and transaction data.
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Court documents allege Pratt knew ISIS was designated a terrorist organization by the United States Secretary of State as a terrorist organization when he attempted to give it cryptocurrency.
Pratt was arrested in May at his home in Detroit and was charged with two counts of providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations.
If convicted, he could have faced up to 40 years in federal prison. Instead, he will spend nine years behind bars after he pleaded guilty Tuesday, July 8, to concealing the financing of terrorism.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 13.