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Local Man Jailed for Funding ISIS
BOSTON – A Wakefield man, Mateo Ventura, 21, has been sentenced to 50 months in prison for concealing the source of material support or resources intended for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Ventura was found guilty of one count of concealment of financing of terrorism.
According to court documents, Ventura provided multiple gift cards to an individual he believed was an ISIS supporter between January and May 2023. He intended that the gift cards be sold on the dark web for a lesser value, with the profits being used to support ISIS. The total amount donated by Ventura was $705.
Ventura also expressed his desire to fight alongside ISIS overseas and purchased plane tickets in order to travel to the Middle East and join the terrorist group. He stated that he wanted the proceeds from the sale of the gift cards to go to ISIS “for war on kuffar,” (disbelievers).
U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper handed down the sentence on [date]. Ventura was initially charged by complaint in June 2023 and was indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023. He pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2025.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy H. Kistner of the National Security Unit prosecuted the case. Valuable assistance was provided by Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Assistant Attorney John A. Eisenberg for the Justice Department’s National Security Division, along with Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement today.
Mateo Ventura will serve 50 months in prison followed by seven years of supervised release. This case is a reminder of the serious consequences of providing support to terrorist organizations.
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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