An Irondequoit, New York woman has been arrested on federal charges alleging she attempted to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization through cryptocurrency transfers and encrypted communications, according to the Justice Department (DOJ).
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Authorities say Catherine Beth Washburn is accused of attempting to send digital currency to an individual she believed was connected to militant activity in Gaza.
She has been charged by criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support to Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.
If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
Court filings allege that the 37-year-old carried out approximately 80 cryptocurrency transfers totaling about $30,000 to an account linked to the individual, with transactions occurring alongside ongoing encrypted communications.
Investigators say the financial activity was sustained over time and tracked through digital forensic and blockchain analysis.
According to the complaint, FBI search warrants executed in early 2026 uncovered encrypted messages between Washburn and a contact who claimed to be a PIJ fighter operating in Gaza.
Those communications allegedly included references to militant activity, weapons discussions, and developments tied to the ongoing conflict in the region.
Prosecutors also cite messages in which Washburn allegedly expressed approval of violent actions and made hostile statements regarding Israel.
The communications, they say, reflected ideological alignment with militant activity referenced in the exchanges.
Federal officials described the case as part of broader counterterrorism efforts targeting financial support networks tied to overseas extremist organizations, particularly those using cryptocurrency channels to move funds outside traditional banking systems.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said the allegations involve attempted financial support to PIJ through digital currency transfers tied to an individual claiming involvement in attacks.
U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo said the conduct described in the complaint reflects support for violent extremist activity and emphasized the seriousness of material support cases under federal law.
FBI Counterterrorism officials said the investigation combined financial tracing with encrypted communications analysis to identify the alleged activity and the individuals involved.
Washburn was arrested and made an initial appearance in federal court, where she was ordered detained pending further proceedings.
Social media accounts attributed to Washburn were reviewed by Resist the Mainstream and contain posts describing Israel in adversarial language, including commentary related to the Israel–Gaza conflict.
Additional posts on accounts appearing to belong to Washburn include statements referring to Israel in hostile terms alongside broader political commentary about the region.
These accounts are not cited in the charging document as evidence but were reviewed as part of the broader public record connected to the case.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York and attorneys from the DOJ’s National Security Division.
Officials say the investigation remains part of ongoing efforts to monitor encrypted communications and cryptocurrency activity linked to designated foreign terrorist organizations.
