TechFlow, July 9 — According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a 26-year-old man from Detroit, Jibreel Pratt, has pleaded guilty to two charges related to concealing cryptocurrency donations to the Islamic State (ISIS).
According to the plea agreement, Pratt began communicating in February 2023 with an informant he believed to be an ISIS member, expressed his desire to join the organization, and recorded a pledge-of-allegiance video. In March and May of the same year, Pratt sent Bitcoin to the informant with the intent to fund others joining ISIS or support violent activities.
Pratt attempted to conceal the nature and origin of the Bitcoin transfers by using privacy-focused VPNs and applications that encrypt private keys and transaction data. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. However, both parties have agreed that a nine-year sentence is an appropriate punishment. Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, 2025.
