NJ Woman Sentenced to 34 Months for Concealing Support to Syrian Terrorist Organizations

A woman from Sussex County, New Jersey, named Maria Bell, also known as "Maria Sue Bell," was sentenced to 34 months in prison on January 24, 2023, for trying to support Syrian terrorist organizations. Bell had previously pleaded guilty to one count of concealing attempts to provide material support to designated foreign terrorist organizations. 

From February 2018 to November 2018, she had hidden and disguised the nature, location, source, ownership and control of the attempted provision of material support and resources to fighters based in Syria who were members of Jabhat Fath al-sham, also known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS) and Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). 

She knew that JFS and HTS were designated foreign terrorist organizations and that JFS and HTS has engaged or engaged in terrorist activities. 

In addition to the prison term, Judge Vazquez sentenced Bell to five years of supervised release. The U.S. Attorney and special agents of the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security were credited for the investigation leading to the sentencing.