News Summary
Jibreel Pratt from Detroit has pleaded guilty to charges of concealing material support for ISIS using cryptocurrency. Pratt aimed to fund the terrorist organization and plans to establish a terror cell. He faces up to ten years in prison, with sentencing set for November. This case highlights ongoing concerns of domestic extremism and the financing of terrorism through digital means.
Detroit – Jibreel Pratt, a 26-year-old man from Detroit, pleaded guilty on July 8, 2025, to two charges related to concealing material support for a foreign terrorist organization. His actions were centered on attempting to provide funding to the Islamic State (ISIS) through cryptocurrency donations. Pratt faces a maximum federal prison sentence of ten years, with his sentencing scheduled for November 13, 2025. However, the plea agreement includes a recommendation from both prosecutors and Pratt’s attorney for a nine-year prison term.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that Pratt communicated with an FBI informant, believing the informant to be an ISIS member. He transferred Bitcoin to this individual in March and May 2023, intending to finance travel for recruits to join ISIS and support acts of violence on behalf of the group. His methods for concealing the cryptocurrency transactions included using an encrypted application and a private network (VPN).
U.S. Attorney Jerome Gorgon remarked that Pratt had made a “binding oath” to aid ISIS, a terrorist organization known for its anti-American stance and atrocities. Prosecutors accused Pratt of planning to establish a terror cell in the Metro Detroit area, claiming he stockpiled weapons and battlefield gear during this endeavor. Furthermore, evidence emerged that he sought advanced missile technologies and aimed to acquire explosive devices, including suicide drones and remote-controlled vehicles.
Handwritten plans recovered during the investigation detailed Pratt’s intention to form an ISIS intelligence unit tasked with executing murder or abduction operations without detection. In May 2024, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Pratt’s home and uncovered a loaded handgun concealed in a dog food container.
Pratt’s conversations with the FBI informant began in February 2023 via an encrypted WhatsApp number. Notably, his profile photo on the app featured Anwar al-Awlaki, a controversial radical cleric tied to various terrorism-related cases. In these discussions, Pratt expressed confidence in undergoing weapons training for ISIS, indicating his growing firearm collection, which included an AR-style gun. He acknowledged that gaining explosive training would be a new challenge for him and found the prospect “interesting.”
Aside from these activities, Pratt explored the potential use of explosives against ISIS’s adversaries deploying drone technology and remote-controlled vehicles. His arrest in May 2024 stemmed from a larger investigation into his illicit activities. Although there was an accompanying case charging Pratt with wire fraud and financial crimes, this was dropped as part of the plea agreement.
This case underscores the ongoing concerns regarding domestic extremism and the use of cryptocurrency for funding terrorism. As investigations continue into similar activities, the implications of Pratt’s actions illustrate the complexities of modern terrorism financing and the importance of vigilance in combating potential threats to national security.
The sentencing of Jibreel Pratt serves as a critical reminder of the legal repercussions faced by those who attempt to endanger public safety through support of terrorist organizations. With a maximum potential penalty looming, authorities remain vigilant in addressing terrorism-related activities locally and nationally.
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Additional Resources
- CBS News: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Cryptocurrency Donations to ISIS
- Wikipedia: Cryptocurrency
- Click on Detroit: Detroit Man Tried to Fund ISIS by Sending Crypto
- Google Search: Cryptocurrency Terrorism
- Detroit News: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty in ISIS Terror Case
- Google Scholar: Terrorism Financing
- CBS News: Detroit Man Pleads Guilty to Hiding Cryptocurrency Donations to ISIS
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Terrorism
- UPI: Former Army National Guard Accused of Planning Attack
- Google News: Detroit ISIS Funding
