Reston Woman Faces 15 Years for Supporting Terrorists in Africa: Justice Department

RESTON, VA — A Reston woman was found guilty of providing material support to terrorists on Tuesday.

Muna Osman Jama, 36, of Reston, and Hinda Osman Dhirane, 46, of Kent, Wash., were found guilty of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, according to a statement from the U.S. Justice Department.

U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenge convicted them after a bench trial. They were convicted of sending funds to al-Shabaab, which is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States government.

“In addition to money they transferred in direct support of al-Shabaab, these subjects recruited, solicited, and advised an online group located in multiple countries as to how and where to transfer funds to this terrorist organization,” said Paul M. Abbate, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, in the statement. “In coordination of the group, these subjects would then track and facilitate donations to ensure the money was received by their co-conspirators located in Nairobi and Somaliland. Today's guilty verdicts send a message that facilitation of financial support to a designated terrorist organization equates to terrorist activity itself.”

Jama and Dhirane are accused of sending money to al-Shabaab in Somalia and Kenya, and meeting regularly with other women in a private chatroom to track monthly payments of money.

"These recordings demonstrated that the women had close connections with al-Shabaab leadership and were privy to non-public, inside information concerning al-Shabaab activities," the statement claims. "Jama and Dhirane were recorded as they laughed as the carnage at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi was still taking place. Dhirane and co-conspirator were also recorded as they laughed at the Boston Marathon Bombing before it became known who committed the attack."

Jama and Dhirane face up to 15 years in prison. They will be sentenced Jan. 19.

Image via Flickr user Chris Potter