Opening statements in trial of woman charged with financing terrorist groups in Syria through cryptocurrency

Opening statements are set to begin Tuesday for a woman accused of funding terrorist groups through cryptocurrency.

Opening statements are expected Tuesday in the trial of Victoria Jacobs, an Uzbekistan native who is charged with using cryptocurrency to fund Syrian-based terrorist groups and launder supporters' contributions.

It is the first-ever terrorism financing trial in the New York State court system.

The six-count indictment, filed in January 2023, charged Jacobs with providing support for an act of terrorism, money laundering and other crimes.

"This complex case demonstrates the depth of knowledge and resources this Office has to combat terrorism and extremism in New York and throughout the globe," Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at the time.

Jacobs, who was known as Bakhrom Talipov, provided material support to Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, a U.S. State Department-designated foreign terrorist organization, and provided more than $5,000 to the terrorist training group Malhama Tactical, which fought with and provided special tactical and military training to Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham, the indictment said.