A New Yorker-turned-ISIS recruiter, Sinmyah Ceasar, nicknamed “Umm Nuteella,” could face up to 70 years in prison after an appeals court dismissed her initial “shockingly low” 48-month sentence for aiding the terror group.
Ceasar, 29, allegedly continued communicating with terrorist contacts and soliciting money for an ISIS supporter while on supervised release after being released from custody, according to Brooklyn federal prosecutors.
“There is simply no other terrorism defendant who compares to the defendant’s history of recidivism, and her persistence and consistency in disobeying the lawful authority of the Court,” the prosecutors wrote in a memo before her upcoming re-sentencing.
Ceasar, who was sentenced to only four years in 2019 by the late Judge Jack Weinstein, had faced life in prison after pleading guilty to providing material support to ISIS and obstruction of justice. Judge Weinstein argued that she only needed educational and mental health support.
After serving the light sentence, Ceasar was released in July 2020 to serve eight years of supervised release. However, the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals found her penalty “shockingly low” and ordered a re-sentencing.
Following the appeals decision, Ceasar missed a court-ordered appearance on Aug. 25, 2021, and cut off her ankle monitoring bracelet in an attempt to flee to Russia. She was arrested days later in New Mexico.
While on supervised release, Ceasar violated her conditions almost immediately. She made calls to a known Taliban supporter and solicited money for an ISIS supporter. She also lied to her probation officer about using social media, including liking a post by an ISIS flag user.
Ceasar had intended to marry ISIS wannabe Fareed Mumuni, serving a 25-year sentence for planning an FBI agent attack, but the marriage fell apart.
Prosecutors are now seeking a sentence of 30 to 70 years in prison.
Ceasar’s defense attorney, Deirdre von Dornum, requested a postponement of the sentencing due to concerns about violations during her supervised release. The re-sentencing, originally scheduled for Thursday, was pushed to February.
