Massachusetts teen charged with trying to use gift cards to raise funds for ISIS

A Massachusetts teenager was arrested Thursday and charged with knowingly covering up the source of resources he intended to give to the international terror group ISIS.

Mateo Ventura, 18, of Wakefield, Massachusetts, is accused of buying electronic gift cards and giving them, via the dark web, to a person he believed to be an ISIS supporter.

As part of the scheme, the ISIS beneficiary was to sell the cards for slightly less than face value, with the proceeds being used for “war on kuffar,” or those who do not believe in Islam.

Mr. Ventura is accused of first reaching out to the purported ISIS supporter, in fact an undercover FBI agent, in August 2021, when he was still a juvenile.

Between August 2021 and August 2022, Mr. Ventura is accused of providing 26 cards worth $965 to the agent to be used for the commission of jihad. Between January and May 2023, the now-adult Mr. Ventura provided 16 more cards worth $705 in this manner, the Justice Department contended.

An FBI affidavit also said that Mr. Ventura expressed desires to go abroad and fight for ISIS. After calling the idea off in September 2022, Mr. Ventura was talked back into it in January 2023, leading him to purchase a Turkish Airlines flight to Cairo for April 10, 2023.

Mr. Ventura did not end up taking the flight, and did not reschedule it. Instead, according to authorities, Mr. Ventura reached out himself to the FBI, offering to reveal information on future terrorist attacks in exchange for $10 million.

“I want the cash and immunity no funny games I known you thought I am retarded fool but jokes on you I will not admit I sent this or communicate until the cash is delivered [FBI AGENT 1] I am speaking to you dumb little bimbo this is my only offer try more offensive actions and you will regret it,” Mr. Ventura wrote anonymously to an FBI tip form on April 10, according to the FBI affidavit for his arrest.

If convicted of knowingly concealing the source of his purported aid to ISIS, Mr. Ventura would face up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to a lifetime of parole.