- Mateo Ventura, 18, of Wakefield, Massachusetts, has been charged with sending $1,670 in present playing cards to an undercover federal agent whom he believed used to be an ISIS sympathizer.
- Ventura’s alleged intent in offering the playing cards, each and every valued anyplace from $10 to $100, used to be to fund a conflict on nonbelievers.
- Ventura will seem in court docket Thursday on a rate of knowingly concealing the supply of subject matter strengthen or sources to a international 15 may organization.
An 18-year-old Massachusetts guy despatched present playing cards value a complete of $1,670 to any individual he idea used to be a supporter of the Islamic State team that he supposed for use to fund a conflict on nonbelievers, federal prosecutors stated Thursday.
Mateo Ventura, of Wakefield, is scheduled to look in U.S. District Court docket in Worcester later Thursday on a rate of knowingly concealing the supply of subject matter strengthen or sources to a international 15 may organization, the U.S. legal professional’s place of job in Boston stated in a remark.
An electronic mail in search of remark used to be left with Ventura’s federal public defender.
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Ventura sought after the present playing cards to be offered at the darkish internet for somewhat lower than face worth with the ensuing proceeds for use to strengthen the Islamic State team, prosecutors stated.
A Massachusetts 18-year-old stands accused of sending $1,670 in present playing cards to a federal agent whom he believed to be an Islamic State operative.
Between August 2020 and August 2021, Ventura equipped about 25 playing cards with a complete face worth of $965 to any individual he idea used to be an Islamic State team sympathizer however used to be in reality an undercover FBI agent, in keeping with an FBI affidavit incorporated in court docket paperwork. Ventura used to be nonetheless a juvenile on the time.
He equipped some other $705 in present playing cards after turning 18 between January and Would possibly, government stated.
The playing cards ranged in worth from $10 to $100.
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Ventura, the usage of an internet encrypted messaging utility, additionally expressed a need to commute in a foreign country and battle with the Islamic State team, in keeping with the affidavit. He even went as far as to shop for an airline price ticket to Cairo in April, however he by no means departed and he didn’t reschedule or cancel his flight, the affidavit says.
On one instance, Ventura despatched an audio document to the secret agent pledging his allegiance to the Islamic State caliphate, in keeping with paperwork.
Ventura additionally contacted the FBI and presented to reveal details about long term terror assaults in trade for $10 million, in keeping with the affidavit.
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If convicted, Ventura faces a most of 10 years in jail and a $250,000 high quality.
