A Wakefield, Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 50 months in prison for concealing the source of material support intended for ISIS. Mateo Ventura, 21, received his sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper in Boston federal court. He will also serve seven years of supervised release after completing his prison term.
Ventura pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of concealment of financing of terrorism. He was first charged by complaint in June 2023 and later indicted by a federal grand jury in October 2023.
According to court documents, Ventura provided several gift cards to an individual he believed was an ISIS supporter. The intention was for these cards to be sold on the dark web at slightly less than their face value, with proceeds used to support ISIS activities. Ventura stated that he wanted the funds to go to ISIS “for war on kuffar,” referring to disbelievers, and believed the money would be used for ammunition and explosives. He also expressed a desire to fight alongside ISIS overseas and purchased plane tickets intending to travel to the Middle East and join the group. Between January and May 2023, Ventura donated a total of $705.
The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Assistant Attorney John A. Eisenberg from the Justice Department’s National Security Division; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy H. Kistner prosecuted the case with assistance from Trial Attorney Michael Dittoe of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
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