Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr., U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan | Department of Justice
Jibreel Pratt, a 26-year-old Detroit resident, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts related to concealing cryptocurrency donations intended for the Islamic State of Iraq and Al-Sham (ISIS), according to an announcement by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), with Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI’s Michigan office joining Gorgon in announcing the sentence.
Court documents reveal that Pratt began communicating in February 2023 with a confidential human source whom he believed to be affiliated with ISIS. Over several months, Pratt expressed his intention to travel overseas to join ISIS and recorded a video pledging allegiance to its leader. He also provided ideas and information on various topics, including how ISIS could use drones and remote-controlled cars for attacks, organize intelligence operations, and improve air defense systems.
In March and May 2023, Pratt sent Bitcoin transfers intended for supporting individuals traveling to join ISIS or funding acts of violence on behalf of the organization. To conceal these transactions, he used privacy-focused technology such as VPNs and encrypted apps.
“Over these last years, our office has worked shoulder-to-shoulder with the FBI to protect Americans from hardened ISIS supporters in our midst. Mr. Pratt is the latest traitor who—in his own words—operated ‘in the shadows.’ And we will continue to stand guard because he may not be the last,” said U.S. Attorney Gorgon.
“Today’s sentencing of Jibreel Pratt is a testament to the hard work of FBI Detroit’s Joint Terrorism Task Force in keeping Michigan safe from homegrown violent extremists,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “It should send a strong message to anyone seeking to support foreign terrorist organizations, via financial means or otherwise, that the FBI will not stand idly by and allow this activity to occur within the United States. FBI Detroit remains committed to protecting the American people and will work relentlessly to disrupt any plot that threatens the security of our nation.”
Assistant United States Attorney Douglas Salzenstein and Jennifer Burke from the National Security Division at the U.S. Department of Justice prosecuted this case.
