Overview

New York-based Dilkhayot Kasimov is an Uzbek citizen who was a financier and facilitator for ISIS.Rebecca Davis O’Brien, “Fourth man charged over alleged Brooklyn terror conspiracy,” Wall Street Journal, April 6, 2015, http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2015/04/06/fourth-man-charged-over-alleged-brooklyn-terror-conspiracy/. Kasimov reportedly financially assisted Akhror Saidakhmetov and Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev in their pursuit to travel to Syria and join the self-proclaimed Islamic State.“Brooklyn man charged with allegedly funding ISIS recruitment plot in NY,” CBS, April 7, 2015, http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/04/07/brooklyn-man-charged-with-allegedly-funding-isis-recruitment-plot-in-ny/. Kasimov co-conspired with Abror Habibov to raise funds for the two foreign fighters, ultimately collecting approximately $1,600.“Fourth Brooklyn resident charged with attempt and conspiracy to provide material support to ISIL,” United States Department of Justice, April 6, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/April15/2015-Apr-6.php. The U.S. Department of Justice believes that they raised these funds by “collecting…from multiple individuals.”“Fourth Brooklyn, New York, resident charged with attempt and conspiracy to provide material support to ISIL,” United States Department of Justice, April 6, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/fourth-brooklyn-new-york-resident-charged-attempt-and-conspiracy-provide-material-support. Kasimov was found guilty of conspiracy and of attempting to provide material support to ISIS on September 24, 2019.“Jury Finds Brooklyn Man Guilty of Conspiracy and Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS,” U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Public Affairs, September 25, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/jury-finds-brooklyn-man-guilty-conspiracy-and-attempting-provide-material-support-isis. On June 3, 2022, Kasimov was sentenced to 15 years in prison.“Funder of ISIS Foreign Fighter Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison,” U.S. Department of Justice, June 3, 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/funder-isis-foreign-fighter-sentenced-15-years-prison.

Kasimov delivered the money to Saidakhmetov at John F. Kennedy airport on February 25, 2015, as Saidakhmetov attempted to travel to Syria. Saidakhmetov was stopped by federal agents as he attempted to board the plane, and Kasimov was arrested the same day.Stephanie Clifford, “4th Brooklyn Man is Charged in Plot to Join ISIS,” New York Times, April 6, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/07/nyregion/4th-brooklyn-man-is-charged-in-plot-to-join-isis.html; Nate Raymond, “Fourth New York City man charged in plot to aid Islamic State,” Reuters, April 6, 2015, http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/07/us-usa-security-isis-idUSKBN0MY04R20150407.

Following his arrest, Kasimov admitted to providing Saidakhmetov with the money for his travels.“Fourth man charged in connection with ISIS recruitment plot in Brooklyn,” CBS, April 6, 2015, http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/04/06/fourth-man-charged-in-connection-with-isis-recruitment-plot-in-brooklyn/. Kasimov was charged with “attempt and conspiracy to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” on April 6, 2015.“Fourth Brooklyn resident charged with attempt and conspiracy to provide material support to ISIL,” United States Department of Justice, April 6, 2015, http://www.justice.gov/usao/nye/pr/April15/2015-Apr-6.php. At his arraignment on April 8, Kasimov pled not guilty, along with his co-conspirators, Saidakhmetov, Juraboev, and Habibov.John Marzulli, “Four Brooklyn men plead not guilty to trying to join ISIS,” New York Daily News, April 8, 2015, http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/4-brooklyn-men-plead-not-guilty-join-isis-article-1.2177970.

Investigators discovered emails that Kasimov had allegedly sent to unidentified individuals glorifying and propagating jihad. The emails helped the investigators to confirm Kasmov’s role as a financial and logistical backer of the would-be foreign fighters.“Fourth man charged in connection with ISIS recruitment plot in Brooklyn,” CBS, April 6, 2015, http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/04/06/fourth-man-charged-in-connection-with-isis-recruitment-plot-in-brooklyn/. Before his arrest, Kasimov was living in Brooklyn, NY, as an illegal alien.Rebecca Davis O’Brien, “Fourth man charged over alleged Brooklyn terror conspiracy,” Wall Street Journal, April 6, 2015, http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2015/04/06/fourth-man-charged-over-alleged-brooklyn-terror-conspiracy/.

On September 24, 2019, Kasimov was found guilty of conspiracy and of attempting to provide material support to ISIS. He faces up to 30 years in federal prison at sentencing.“Jury Finds Brooklyn Man Guilty of Conspiracy and Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS,” U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Public Affairs, September 25, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/jury-finds-brooklyn-man-guilty-conspiracy-and-attempting-provide-material-support-isis. He was held at Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City.“DILKHAYOT KASIMOV,” Find an Inmate – Federal Bureau of Prisons, accessed April 3, 2021, https://www.bop.gov/inmateloc/. On June 3, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York sentenced Kasimov to 15 years in prison for conspiring to and attempting to provide material support to ISIS.“Funder of ISIS Foreign Fighter Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison,” U.S. Department of Justice, June 3, 2022, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/funder-isis-foreign-fighter-sentenced-15-years-prison.