Individual Arrested for Charges Related to Financing Terror, Gun Violations, and Immigration Fraud

A man from Tajikistan residing in the United States without legal permission has been accused of attempting to assist various terrorist groups, including the Islamic State, by providing financial support to the families of terrorists who died in combat, as reported by the Justice Department on Wednesday.

The individual, identified as Mansuri Manuchekhri, aged 33 and residing in Brooklyn, New York, was presented before a federal judge on Wednesday and was remanded into custody, according to authorities. Additionally, court documents reveal that he is facing charges related to illegal possession of firearms while in the U.S. unlawfully, as well as allegations of immigration fraud.

“Under no circumstances will my Department of Justice tolerate terrorism,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. 

ISIS has long waged a recruitment and propaganda war online.   (Reuters)

In August 2024, the FBI received a tip about Manuchekhri, who works as a truck driver and frequently journeys across the country, after a concerned family member reached out to the New York State Terrorism Tips Hotline fearing that he might engage in violent activities.

The family member said Manuchekhri had threatened to kill them multiple times. 

Between December 2021 and April 2023, Manuchekhri sent around $70,000 to people connected to ISIS in Turkey and Syria, federal prosecutors said. He also communicated with someone in Turkey who said the money would be given to ISIS or ISIS-K members and their family members, the court documents state. 

In addition, Manuchekhri praised ISIS attacks and has multiple ISIS propaganda videos on his iCloud account. He also possessed multiple guns and frequently visited shooting ranges.

His iCloud account had multiple images of him with guns, federal prosecutors said. 

If convicted, Manuchekhri faces up to 45 years in prison.