U.S. federal prosecutors said 26-year-old Detroit resident Jibril Pratt was sentenced to nine years in prison after admitting to concealing bitcoin transfers to fund the Islamic State (ISIS).
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan said Pratt pleaded guilty to two counts of concealing the source and purpose of cryptocurrency donations before his sentencing.
The defendant began collaborating with ISIS in February 2023. He then «contacted a confidential source,» believing that the individual could arrange travel for him abroad to join the terrorists.
Pratt even recorded a video pledging allegiance to the Islamic State leadership. He even shared detailed operational concepts with them, from drone-delivered explosives systems to intelligence structures and air defense improvements. Investigators say he also prepared «handwritten notes outlining tactical concepts» that could be useful to the militants.
From March to May 2023, Pratt sent bitcoins to ISIS. He later stated that he intended for these funds to «help others join the movement or support someone who would commit violent acts on behalf of the group.» To conceal the nature of the transfers, the defendant used a VPN and an app that encrypted private keys and transaction metadata.