Long Island Woman Charged With Using Bitcoin To Launder Money To Support ISIS : The Two
Zoobia Shahnaz
Zoobia Shahnaz   27  is charged with bank fraud  conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of money laundering  according to a statement from the Department of Justice. She pleaded not guilty on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Central Islip  N.Y.
 Shahnaz  is a U.S. citizen born in Pakistan. She lives in the town of Brentwood  N.Y.  where she was working as a lab technician in a Manhattan hospital until June  when she quit her job. The government says  Shahnaz  was detained on July 31 at John F. Kennedy airport as she was headed to Pakistan by way of Istanbul  from where they believe she intended to enter Syria and join ISIS.
"As a health care professional  in 2016   Ms. Shahnaz  was a volunteer with the Syrian American Medical Society assisting other health care providers in delivering lifesaving medical care to Syrian refugees "  her  attorney  Steve Zissou  tells NPR. " She  witnessed the suffering of the refugees firsthand.  Her  humanitarian efforts then and since were motivated by  her  commitment to helping alleviate the plight of the people in the Middle East."
According to Justice Department court filings  the defendant used more than a dozen credit cards â six of which allegedly were fraudulently obtained â to buy approximately $62 700 in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The government says  Shahnaz  converted the cryptocurrencies back to U.S. dollars and deposited the funds into a checking account in  her  name.  She  also allegedly obtained a $22 500 loan from a Manhattan bank.
The Justice Department says  Shahnaz  then began transferring money abroad to support ISIS  while taking measures to disguise the nature and purpose of the funds and avoid transaction reporting requirements.
If convicted of bank fraud   Shahnaz  faces up to 30 years in prison. The other charges each carry possible penalties of up to 20 years.
[TGT] is charged with bank fraud  conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of money laundering  according to a statement from the Department of Justice.  [TGT]  pleaded not guilty on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Central Islip   [TGT] 
is a U.S. citizen born in Pakistan.  [TGT]  lives in the town of Brentwood  N.Y.  where  [TGT]  was working as a lab technician in a Manhattan hospital until June  when  [TGT]  quit  [TGT]  job. The government says   [TGT] was detained on July 31 at John F. Kennedy airport as  [TGT]  was headed to Pakistan by way of Istanbul  from where they believe  [TGT]  intended to enter Syria and join ISIS.
"As a health care professional  in 2016   Ms. Shahnaz  was a volunteer with the Syrian American Medical Society assisting other health care providers in delivering lifesaving medical care to Syrian refugees "  her  attorney  Steve Zissou  tells NPR. "  [TGT]   witnessed the suffering of the refugees firsthand.   [TGT]   humanitarian efforts then and since were motivated by   [TGT]   commitment to helping alleviate the plight of the people in the Middle East."
According to Justice Department court filings  the defendant used more than a dozen credit cards â six of which allegedly were fraudulently obtained â to buy approximately $62 700 in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The government says  Shahnaz  converted the cryptocurrencies back to U.S. dollars and deposited the funds into a checking account in  her  name.  She  also allegedly obtained a $22 500 loan from a Manhattan bank.
The Justice Department says  Shahnaz  then began transferring money abroad to support ISIS  while taking measures to disguise the nature and purpose of the funds and avoid transaction reporting requirements.
If convicted of bank fraud   Shahnaz  faces up to 30 years in prison. The other charges each carry possible penalties of up to 20 years.