A 37-year-old woman has been sentenced to more than six years in prison  after pleading guilty to concealing funds intended to support acts of terrorism, authorities said.

Jill Marie Jones, formerly of Chandler, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Dominic W. Lanza to 78 months in jail followed by 25 years of supervised probation.

As early as 2019, Jones regularly posted anti-American content on social media platforms because she believed the United States military unjustly treated Muslims overseas, according to a release from the Arizona district of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

In 2020, the release stated, Jones began communicating online with a person she believed to be a member of al Qaeda but who was working for the FBI.

“On May 10, 2020, when asked by this individual if she supported al Qaeda and their struggle against the kuffar (non-believers), Jones responded, ‘Yes, I do.’ Jones communicated with this individual about traveling to Afghanistan to support al Qaeda because ‘supporting AQ against the oppressors would be an honour,’ the release stated. 

Later that month when asked whether she could spare any money to buy weapons for al Qaeda to kill American soldiers, Jones said while she was not well-off financially, the U.S. government’s COVID stimulus checks presented an opportunity, according to authorities.

“The timing is interesting. Since because of coronavirus we all got government money. Free money basically. ... [I]t would be most ironic the money from that goes for this . . . They give us free money, and I turn it around on them,” the release stated, quoting Jones.

Jones agreed to send money, via a prepaid credit card, officials said.

After researching prepaid cards online, Jones determined that an online purchase could be traced back to her because it required the disclosure of personal information. To conceal the source, ownership, and control of her funds, Jones traveled to a national retail store and purchased a $500 prepaid credit card using the COVID stimulus money, according to the release.

She sent the card information to the purported al Qaeda member with the message, “may it help them to be victorious.” Jones intended for these funds to be used by al Qaeda to purchase rifle scopes for use against American soldiers in Afghanistan, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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