Overview

Kim Anh Vo is a Georgia resident and a recruiter for ISIS who is currently facing federal charges of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS.“Georgia Woman Arrested for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS,” U.S. Department of Justice, March 12, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/georgia-woman-arrested-conspiring-provide-material-support-isis. Vo was arrested by federal authorities on March 12, 2019, in Hephzibah, Georgia and on December 10, 2019, Vo pleaded guilty to the charges in a New York federal court. She faced up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Vo was granted bail in April 2020.Jeremy Redmon, “Georgia woman pleads guilty to conspiring to support ISIS,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 10, 2019, https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-news/georgia-woman-pleads-guilty-conspiring-support-isis/0xTkY19ir8rnxWPwLjr6LP/. On February 23, 2023, Vo was sentenced by a New York federal court.Matthew Russel Lee, “After Woman Charged With Threats to NYC NGO Gets Time Served Restitution Ridiculed,” Inner City Press, March 2, 2023, https://www.innercitypress.com/sdny33buchwaldvoicp030223.html.

In April 2016, Vo joined the United Cyber Caliphate (UCC), an online group that pledged allegiance to ISIS and committed to carrying out online attacks and cyber intrusions against Americans. Between April 2016 and May 2017, Vo principally worked on behalf of the UCC to recruit others to join the group while also assisting with the “Kalachnikv E-Security Team,” a UCC-affiliated hacking collective.Audrey Alexander, “Doxing and Defacements: Examining the Islamic State’s Hacking Capabilities,” Combating Terrorism Center at Westpoint, April 2019, https://ctc.usma.edu/doxing-defacements-examining-islamic-states-hacking-capabilities/. Between January and February 2017, Vo recruited other individuals—including a minor residing in Norway—to create online content in support of ISIS, including a video threating a non-profit organization based in New York City. The video contained messages such as, “You messed with the Islamic State, SO EXPECT US SOON,” followed by a scene displaying a photograph of the organization’s chief executive officer and former U.S. ambassador, along with the words:  “[CEO], we will get you.”“Georgia Woman Arrested for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS,” U.S. Department of Justice, March 12, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/georgia-woman-arrested-conspiring-provide-material-support-isis.

In April 2017, Vo allegedly coordinated the publication of a kill list with UCC members in several countries, including Norway, the Netherlands, and Iraq. UCC hacktivists collected the personally identifiable information of over 8,000 individuals during a website intrusion into a U.S.-based business.Audrey Alexander, “Doxing and Defacements: Examining the Islamic State’s Hacking Capabilities,” Combating Terrorism Center at Westpoint, April 2019, https://ctc.usma.edu/doxing-defacements-examining-islamic-states-hacking-capabilities/.

According to court documents, Vo apparently believed the first leader of the United Cyber Caliphate was living in Iraq. After that person “ultimately disappeared,” she was nominated by some members to lead the group but declined.Sasha Ingber, “Georgia Woman Arrested And Accused Of Aiding ISIS Cyber Group That Made 'Kill Lists',” NPR, March 12, 2019, https://www.npr.org/2019/03/12/702698744/georgia-woman-arrested-and-accused-of-aiding-isis-cyber-group-that-made-kill-lis. Vo was eventually compelled to stop her online activities. Court documents indicated Vo herself approached federal authorities three times between July 2017 and August 2018 and offered to tell them about her time behind the keyboard for ISIS.“Kim Anh Vo Complaint,” U.S. Department of Justice, March 12, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1143071/download. Why she contacted the FBI and the actions the FBI took after Vo’s admissions were not explained in the complaint.“Georgia Woman Arrested for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS,” U.S. Department of Justice, March 12, 2019, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/georgia-woman-arrested-conspiring-provide-material-support-isis.; Sasha Ingber, “Georgia Woman Arrested And Accused Of Aiding ISIS Cyber Group That Made 'Kill Lists',” NPR, March 12, 2019, https://www.npr.org/2019/03/12/702698744/georgia-woman-arrested-and-accused-of-aiding-isis-cyber-group-that-made-kill-lis.

According to her parents she never expressed an interest in Islam. Vo had wanted to work in cyber security for the FBI, according to her father.Sandy Hodson, “Hephzibah woman pleads guilty in terrorist conspiracy,” August Chronicle, July 10, 2019, https://www.augustachronicle.com/news/20190710/hephzibah-woman-pleads-guilty-in-terrorist-conspiracy.

In April 2020, Vo was granted bail.“Bail granted to local woman accused of helping terrorists,” WRDW, April 1, 2020, https://www.wrdw.com/content/news/Bail-granted-to-local-woman-accused-of-assisting-terrorists-569281941.html. On February 23, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York sentenced Vo on charges of conspiring to provide material support to ISIS.Matthew Russel Lee, “After Woman Charged With Threats to NYC NGO Gets Time Served Restitution Ridiculed,” Inner City Press, March 2, 2023, https://www.innercitypress.com/sdny33buchwaldvoicp030223.html.