Virginia man charged in FBI sting with supporting Islamic State goes on trial
A Virginia man accused of funneling tens of thousands of dollars to the Islamic State group was portrayed as a lonely individual seeking companionship, with claims that he was relentlessly targeted by FBI sting operations, including an undercover operative who pretended to be a willing bride. The jury in U.S. District Court in Alexandria is currently hearing the terrorism trial of Mohammed Chhipa, 35, from Springfield, Virginia.
Prosecutors allege that Chhipa met multiple times with an undercover FBI agent who provided him with substantial sums of money on several occasions during 2021 and 2022, all intended for a woman in Syria associated with the Islamic State, known as Umm Dujanah. In his opening remarks, prosecutor Andrew Dixon detailed how Chhipa accepted the funds, converted them to Bitcoin, and subsequently sent them to accounts in Turkey that were linked to the terrorist organization.
Dixon stated that Chhipa transferred more than $74,000 in a similar manner, actively collecting money from multiple donors to channel it to the Islamic State through Umm Dujanah. He emphasized that Chhipa was motivated to provide assistance to women connected with the Islamic State to help them escape from prison camps following the military defeat of the group in regions of Iraq and Syria.
Prosecutors argue that Chhipa was fully aware of the illegality of his actions, noting an attempt to flee the country at one point, only to be compelled to return to the United States. While under surveillance, Chhipa reportedly exclaimed, “I’m not sure why I’m not in prison.”
Chhipa’s defense attorney, Zachary Deubler, countered by asserting that the FBI had scrutinized Chhipa for years, primarily due to his expressions of extremist views on social media. However, Deubler maintained that the FBI lacked sufficient evidence to arrest him, despite an extensive search of Chhipa’s home in 2019, where authorities discovered a collection of Islamic State propaganda.
The defense acknowledged that Chhipa had previously left the country, traveling through Latin America with intentions of reaching Egypt. Upon his return to the U.S. at Dulles International Airport, the FBI questioned him regarding his activities but opted not to make an arrest.
Deubler argued that the government intensified its entrapment efforts, which included creating a false persona as a bride and a supposed Muslim marriage broker. “He was a lonely, sad, inflated man who the government tried to set up,” Deubler stated.
The trial opened with several notable incidents. Chhipa appeared in court wearing a green jumpsuit from the Alexandria jail, opting not to wear civilian attire, which usually raises concerns about jury bias. During the trial’s proceedings, tensions escalated when Chhipa’s family refused to stand as the judge entered the courtroom, prompting U.S. District Judge David Novak to admonish the family to comply or face potential custody.
Prosecutors revealed that Chhipa claims to have married Allison Fluke-Ekren, an American woman from Kansas, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for her role in leading a battalion within the Islamic State. This battalion, known as Khatiba Nusaybah, allowed around 100 women and girls to train in the use of automatic weapons, explosives, and other military tactics. However, charges assert that the marriage Chhipa describes was conducted online and lacks legal recognition in the United States. Furthermore, it is reported that Chhipa has sought to adopt Fluke-Ekren’s children.
The trial is anticipated to continue for about a week as the proceedings unfold.
