A man from Detroit has been sentenced to nine years in prison for attempting to send Bitcoin to ISIS, aiming to support the terrorist organization’s recruitment efforts. Jibreel Pratt, 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of concealing cryptocurrency donations earlier this summer.
The investigation into Pratt’s activities revealed that in February 2022, he engaged in discussions with a Confidential Human Source (CHS), whom he mistakenly believed to be an ISIS member. Throughout the following months, Pratt expressed his desire to travel overseas to join the group and produced a video in which he pledged allegiance to ISIS’s leader.
Pratt’s efforts extended beyond mere intentions; he provided various tactical ideas and strategies aimed at enhancing ISIS operations. These included suggestions for utilizing drones and remote-controlled vehicles for explosive deliveries, as well as tips for conducting intelligence operations and bolstering air defense systems.
In March and May of 2023, he proceeded to send cryptocurrency to the CHS, with the belief that the funds would facilitate the travel of other individuals seeking to join ISIS or support violent acts on behalf of the organization. To obscure the nature of his transactions, investigators noted that Pratt utilized a private VPN and encrypted applications to mask the details of his Bitcoin transfers.
U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon addressed the gravity of Pratt’s crimes, stating, “Over these last years, our office has worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the FBI to protect Americans from hardened ISIS supporters in our midst. Mr. Pratt is the latest traitor who—in his own words—operated ‘in the shadows.’ And we will continue to stand guard because he may not be the last.”
The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting ongoing concerns about domestic terrorism and the use of cryptocurrency for illicit activities.
