Pakistani-born US woman pleads guilty to bitcoin fraud to help IS

E-Paper | May 01, 2026

A Pakistani-born American woman has acknowledged her role in defrauding numerous financial institutions in a bitcoin scheme to help the militant Islamic State (IS) group.

Prosecutors say Zoobia Shahnaz, a naturalised US citizen living on Long Island, pleaded guilty in federal court in Central Islip on Monday to providing material support to a foreign terrorist organisation.

The 27-year-old was charged with laundering bitcoin and wiring money to the IS group. After quitting her job, she was stopped at Kennedy Airport last year attempting to fly to Pakistan.

Shahnaz's lawyer has said she was trying to help Syrian refugees.

She faces up to 20 years in prison.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Investigators find held ‘IS men’ sent funds to Afghanistan

What ISIS and the 'caliphate' mean for Pakistan

ECB governor calls for tax, regulation on bitcoin

Surya Kant Agrawal

Nov 27, 2018 12:44pm

Now even females have become suspect.

Recommend 0

Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Nov 27, 2018 12:49pm

What a mind-boggling, heart-throbbing and soul-searching tragedy?

Recommend 0

Gin

Nov 27, 2018 12:58pm

Pay back Time for her Now

Recommend 0

Rahid Sami

Nov 27, 2018 01:05pm

@Surya Kant Agrawal, you’re no longer a suspect when you plead guilty!

Recommend 0

Truth

Nov 27, 2018 01:07pm

We excel in many such scheme. But shy away from genuine progress, enlightenment and honest work!

Recommend 0

Suraj71

Nov 27, 2018 01:12pm

Bad news. ! Another Dent on already tarnished Image of Pakistan. Teen like Zainab has to face the consequences at international airports.

Recommend 0

desi dimag

Nov 27, 2018 01:32pm

Always keep an eye on peace loving community.

Recommend 0

Syed

Nov 27, 2018 01:56pm

What a farce this US system has become. This drama is just to keep the people on edge.

Recommend 0

Nov 27, 2018 02:09pm

The way these cases are set up puts the entire justice system in doubt with initial suggestion into the wrongdoing to evidence and accomplices all provided by the state itself.

Recommend 0

Mir

Nov 27, 2018 02:40pm

She should be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law for giving a bad name to all peace loving Pakistani people.

Recommend 0

Sami Ullah

Nov 27, 2018 02:58pm

Another Aafia. Let her face the reality then.

Recommend 0

Dhiman

Nov 27, 2018 03:35pm

She went for better life or to do something unusual.

Recommend 0

SalariakiAmmiRandi

Nov 27, 2018 03:49pm

The peace loving community.

Recommend 0

Srini

Nov 27, 2018 04:38pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, what? ??

Recommend 0

Raza

Nov 27, 2018 05:10pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, what are you talking about??.

Recommend 0

ZAK

Nov 27, 2018 05:19pm

Well done, showing initiative in latest technology, Pakistani style

Recommend 0

Bpd

Nov 27, 2018 06:09pm

Wrong very wrong.an innocent soul she is.

Recommend 0

fairplay

Nov 27, 2018 06:40pm

@Gin, sadly, yes. actions have consequences.

Recommend 0

Exlim

Nov 27, 2018 06:44pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, "Mind boggling, heart throbbing tragedy"? What are you trying to say daactor Saab?

Recommend 0

Exlim

Nov 27, 2018 06:46pm

@Bpd, You are convinced she is innocent? Wow.

Recommend 0

Amit

Nov 27, 2018 07:08pm

No surprises there...

Recommend 0

Alba

Nov 27, 2018 09:40pm

@Surya Kant Agrawal, .... The FBI has solid evidence or they would not have made the arrest. These types of investigations generally take two years or so. Now even females have become criminals. She pleaded guilty because the evidence against her is air tight.

Recommend 0

M.Saeed

Nov 28, 2018 12:05am

She should be kept safe from frauds for life in prison.

Recommend 0

Steve lomas

Nov 28, 2018 12:28am

@Alba, trying to reason with fools!

Recommend 0

Veer Singh

Nov 28, 2018 12:48am

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad - Your adjectives don't add up to anything.

Recommend 0

Harambe1

Nov 28, 2018 02:36am

Question: Is Zoobia Shahnaz not a Pakistani-American? When she is released from prison and deported, she will most likely return to Pakistan, no?

Recommend 0

brmurr

Nov 28, 2018 03:02am

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, What in the world are you jabbering about now?

Recommend 0

Mukul

Nov 28, 2018 03:37am

@Bpd, Please provide all evidence you have on her so called innocence am sure FBI is waiting to hear your opinios

Recommend 0

Point blnk

Nov 28, 2018 06:58am

@Surya Kant Agrawal, It's easy for females to evade suspission.

Recommend 0

Nov 28, 2018 02:47pm

She should be strippped of her US citizenship and deported back to Pakistan. If Pakistan doesn’t accept her, put her away for life in Gitmo. She committed high treason and should no longer be conferred the privileges of American citizenship.

Recommend 0

rosh

Nov 28, 2018 06:20pm

@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, are you really a doctor just curious

Recommend 0

Guest

Nov 29, 2018 05:19am

@Bpd, “Wrong very wrong.an innocent soul she is.” Another case where a daughter of nation is falsely implicated like Aafia.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Taptap Send, Arshad Nadeem partner to highlight Pakistan’s unsung champions

The initiative comes at a time when cricket continues to dominate national attention, often overshadowing achievements in other sports.

NexGen Auto (Nishat Group) to Introduce iCAUR in Pakistan

As one of Pakistan’s leading business groups, Nishat Group operates across key sectors including textiles, cement, banking, insurance, power and agriculture.