A Brooklyn woman, Sinmyah Amera Ceasar, was sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison on Wednesday for providing material support to ISIS, obstructing justice while on bail, and fleeing prosecution, according to the Justice Department.
Ceasar, 30, a U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty to three felony offenses: conspiring to provide material support to ISIS, obstructing an official proceeding, and failing to appear in court as required.
Between January and November 2016, Ceasar used social media to promote ISIS propaganda, recruit individuals to travel overseas, and express her desire to die as a martyr. Posting under multiple aliases, including “Umm Nutella,” she attempted to assist at least five individuals in joining ISIS, the department said.
Ceasar was arrested in November 2016 at JFK International Airport as she attempted to travel abroad to join the terrorist group. She pleaded guilty to the material support charge in February 2017 and agreed to cooperate with ongoing government investigations.
However, Ceasar violated the terms of her release and cooperation agreement by deleting communications and reconnecting with ISIS supporters. In June 2019, she was sentenced to four years in prison.
But in 2021, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit vacated her sentence and ordered resentencing, stating the original term was legally unsupported. After the appeals court ruling, Ceasar fled the state and was later arrested in New Mexico, where she pleaded guilty to failing to appear in court as required.
While awaiting resentencing, Ceasar continued communicating with known ISIS supporters and violated Bureau of Prisons rules.
Ceasar’s actions highlight the severe consequences of supporting terrorist organizations and obstructing justice, resulting in a significant federal prison sentence.
