Brooklyn man convicted of giving cash to support wannabe ISIS fighter

September 25, 2019 Noah Goldberg

Brooklyn federal court. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese

Brooklyn federal court. Photo: Rob Abruzzese/Brooklyn Eagle

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A Brooklyn man was convicted Tuesday of helping to fund another man’s travel and expenses to fight for ISIS, federal prosecutors announced.

Dilkhayot Kasimov, an Uzbeki citizen and resident of Brooklyn, was arrested in 2015, after he provided $1,600 — raised by himself and others — in cash to Akhror Saidakhmetov, who was traveling to the Middle East to fight for the Islamic State. Kasimov drove to John F. Kennedy Airport to meet 19-year-old Saidakhmetov and give him the money, federal prosecutors alleged at trial.

“Dilkhayot Kasimov worked to support ISIS, including by collecting and giving money to another individual to fund his travel to join the terrorist group,” stated Assistant Attorney General Demers.

Kasimov worked with other men, Abror Habibov and Azizjon Rakhmatov, to raise the money for Saidakhmetov, who was arrested before getting on a flight to Turkey on Feb. 25, 2015.

Saidakahmetov, Rakhmatov and Habibov all pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to ISIS and Saidakhmetov was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Habibov and Rakhmatov are awaiting sentencing.

Abdurasul Juraboev, a man who planned to travel and fight with Saidahmetov, was also arrested, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Juraboev also had plans to attempt attacks on then-president Barack Obama or planting a bomb on Coney Island.

The verdict followed a one-week trial before Judge William Kuntz, II. Kasimov faces up to 30 years in prison.