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Victoria Jacobs Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison
Victoria Jacobs, also known as Bakhrom Talipov, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison by a New York State court jury for funding Syrian terrorism through Bitcoin.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office stated that Jacobs played a significant role in raising and laundering funds for Syrian terrorist groups, enabling them to access financial markets from her Manhattan apartment.
Details of the Case
- Jacobs was found guilty on all counts, including Soliciting or Providing Support for an Act of Terrorism, Money Laundering, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon.
- The sentencing followed a year-and-a-half-long investigation by the NYPD, Intelligence Bureau, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Counter Terrorism Unit.
Bitcoin’s Role in Terrorism Financing
From September 2018 to June 2019, Jacobs provided material support to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, a terrorist organization based in Syria.
She contributed over $6,000 to the terrorist training group “Malhama Tactical” and laundered more than $12,000 on their behalf using cryptocurrency, Western Union, and MoneyGram wire transfers.
Exploiting Cryptocurrency for Illegal Activities
- Cryptocurrency provided anonymity and freedom from intermediaries, allowing the organization to carry out illegal activities without intervention.
- Jacobs facilitated bomb-making efforts in Syria by providing a U.S. Army Improvised Munitions Handbook to an online group.
- In August 2021, she purchased military-style combat knives, metal knuckles, and throwing stars with the intention to distribute them.
The Global Fight Against Crypto Crime
As crypto adoption increases, it has become more prevalent in terrorism funding, scam operations, organized crime, and money laundering schemes.
Countries like India struggle with regulatory ambiguity, leaving victims in the dark about how these crimes are addressed.
Regulatory Efforts
The United Kingdom has established regulatory baselines to combat crypto-related crime, empowering local authorities to intervene and seize assets obtained through criminal activities.
These measures aim to eliminate crypto assets from illegal enterprises and prevent their exploitation in organized crime.
Ian is a cryptocurrency enthusiast blending humor with professionalism. With an engineering background and a storyteller's heart, he simplifies the blockchain world with sharp analysis and a touch of wit. At Cryptowire, he brings his unique perspective to make digital financial innovation accessible to all.
