NJ Woman Admits Foreign Terrorist Group Support Attempt: Feds

NEW JERSEY - A Sussex County woman admitted Tuesday to attempting to support Syrian foreign terrorist organizations, and then covering it up, federal authorities said.

Maria Bell, also known as “Maria Sue Bell,” 54, of Hopatcong, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez to one count of concealing attempts to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations.

Specifically, Bell attempted to funnel funding and other resources with the intent, knowledge or reason to believe the money was to be used to assist the groups commit a violent act, according to court records.

From February to November 2018, Bell admitted to attempting to hide the offer of support to fighters based in Syria who were members of Jabhat Fath al-sham, also known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS) and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

The charge of concealment of terrorist financing to a designated foreign terrorist organization carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 21, 2022.