A Virginia teenager who used social media to support the militant group Islamic State was sentenced to 11 years and four months in federal prison on Friday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Ali Amin, 17, of Manassas, was the first minor prosecuted by the United States in such a case. U.S. District Judge Claude Hilton handed down a 136-month sentence in a hearing in Alexandria.
“Today’s sentencing demonstrates that those who use social media as a tool to provide support and resources to IS will be identified and prosecuted with no less vigilance than those who travel to take up arms with IS,” U.S. Attorney Dana Boente said.
Amin, who used the Twitter handle @Amreekiwitness, pleaded guilty in June to using Twitter and his blog to show how to use the virtual currency Bitcoin to send funds to the militants.
Prosecutors said Amin also helped Reza Niknejad, 19, of Virginia, to travel to Syria in January to join IS. Niknejad faces federal terrorism and conspiracy charges.
Kenyan sentenced In another case, a Kenyan man was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Friday by a judge in Miami after pleading guilty to funnelling $11,600 dollars to U.S.-designated terrorist organisations in Africa and the Middle East.
