Victoria Jacobs, also known as Bakhrom Talipov, was recently 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 was deeply involved in online terrorist ecosystems, playing a crucial role in raising and laundering money for Syrian terrorist groups. District Attorney Alvin Bragg highlighted how Jacobs enabled these groups to access financial markets in New York City to further their missions. The sentencing came after a lengthy investigation by the NYPD, Intelligence Bureau, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office’s Counter Terrorism Unit.
During the period 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,” which provided tactical and military training to Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. Additionally, Jacobs laundered more than $12,000 on behalf of Malhama Tactical using various methods, including cryptocurrency, Western Union, and MoneyGram wire transfers. These funds were raised worldwide and sent to Bitcoin wallets controlled by Malhama Tactical, allowing them to operate without interference and maintain anonymity.
In December 2019, Jacobs supplied a U.S. Army Improvised Munitions Handbook to an online group to support bomb-making efforts in Syria. She also purchased military-style combat knives, metal knuckles, and throwing stars in August 2021 with the intention of distributing them. Jacobs portrayed herself as a “brother” behind enemy lines in online forums, seeking prayers for missions. The exploitation of cryptocurrency has made it easier for organizations like Malhama Tactical to carry out illegal activities without oversight and intervention.
As the use of cryptocurrency continues to rise, it has become increasingly prevalent in funding terrorism, scam operations, organized crime, and money laundering schemes. Countries like India are struggling with regulatory ambiguity, leaving victims unaware of how these crimes are addressed. Gaurav Mehta, a social activist and CEO of Dharma Life, emphasized how the absence of regulation empowers criminals, as law enforcement agencies lack the focus and capacity to combat crypto-related crimes effectively. In contrast, the United Kingdom has taken steps to establish regulatory baselines to curb crypto-related crime. A recent bill passed into UK law has strengthened local authorities’ ability to intervene and seize assets obtained through criminal activities, even if the criminals protect their anonymity or operate from overseas.
The case of Victoria Jacobs highlights the significant impact of cryptocurrency in funding terrorism and supporting illegal activities. The use of digital currencies allows terrorist groups to carry out their missions without detection and intervention, posing a challenge to law enforcement agencies and regulatory authorities. Addressing regulatory ambiguity and establishing robust measures to combat crypto-related crimes is essential to prevent the misuse of cryptocurrencies for criminal purposes. The efforts made by countries like the United Kingdom serve as a proactive step towards curbing criminal activities facilitated by cryptocurrency.