Wakefield Teen Funds ISIS Through Gift Cards: Feds

WAKEFIELD, MA — A Wakefield man is facing allegations that he provided gift cards in order to fund a terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

Mateo Ventura, 18, was charged Thursday with one count of knowingly concealing the source of material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Joshua Levy.

Ventura is accused of providing gift cards to a person he believed was an ISIS supporter with the intention that the gift cards be sold on the dark web for a little less than face value and the profits be used to support ISIS, according to prosecutors.

Ventura allegedly stated that he wanted the proceeds to go to ISIS “for war on kuffar,” (disbelievers). Prosecutors allege that between January and May, Ventura donated $705 intended to support ISIS.

If convicted, Ventura could face up to 10 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

He was scheduled to appear in federal court in Worcester on Thursday afternoon.