Humzah Mashkoor, a 20-year-old resident of Westminster, Colorado, was sentenced on Apr. 2 to 36 months in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release after pleading guilty to concealing the nature, source, or ownership of funds intended for a foreign terrorist organization.
The case underscores ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to prevent financial support from reaching groups like ISIS. Authorities say such actions are critical in disrupting potential threats before they materialize.
According to the plea agreement, between September 2022 and December 2023, Mashkoor communicated with FBI online covert employees about his intent to travel abroad and join ISIS. He discussed providing money and recruiting others for the organization through both travel and financial contributions. Mashkoor reportedly planned to travel in December 2023 to the United Arab Emirates where he would transfer funds via cryptocurrency before continuing on to Afghanistan or Syria as a fighter for ISIS. Federal agents arrested him at Denver International Airport on Dec. 18, just before he was scheduled to depart.
“Providing material support to a terrorist organization is a serious crime against the United States and I am glad the defendant will spend years in federal prison for what he did,” said United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly.
FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski said: “This investigation was the result of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (comprised of federal, state, and local partners) as well as the Thornton and Westminster police departments. We vigorously pursue investigations when an individual crosses the line from espousing particular views into planning or committing acts of violence, in this case in support of a foreign terrorist organization. Defending the homeland continues to be an FBI top priority.” United States District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez presided over sentencing.
The prosecution team included Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cramer-Babycz and Jasand Mock from Colorado with assistance from Tanya Senanayake of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.
