Virginia woman accused of seeking to help ISIS to face a judge today

Virginia woman accused of seeking to help ISIS to face a judge today

The woman, who had only traffic violations on her record, could face jail until the time of her trial.

A Virginia woman with no criminal record will face charges in federal court in Virginia of trying to help transfer an ISIS sympathizer to Syria.

The woman, Heather Elizabeth Coffman of Henrico County, had nothing on her record more serious than a few traffic violations, but now will be charged with lying to federal agents about her involvement with ISIS, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Depending on the results of today’s hearing, Coffman could face jail until the time of her trial.

She was arrested Nov. 14 after a Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation determined that she was attempting to arrange the secret transfer to Syria of an ISIS sympathizer using her contacts.

Police cited Internet postings and meetings she held with a federal undercover officer posing as sympathetic to the ISIS cause, but Coffman denied the charges.

However, the founder of civil liberties organization Rutherford Institute, John Whitehead, said the case has similarities to other high-profile terrorism cases where people who were unlikely to go through with a high-profile terrorist action were talked into going bigger by undercover federal officials.

“Be careful of anyone who suddenly shows up and wants to help with what you are doing,” said Whitehead in the report.

Federal officials allege that Coffman “did knowingly make” false statements connected to terrorism activities.

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