Sinmyah Ceasar, also known as “Umm Nutella,” a New Yorker who joined ISIS, was initially sentenced to just four years in prison by the late Judge Jack Weinstein in 2019. However, her sentence was overturned in August 2021 after prosecutors argued that the penalty was shockingly low. The 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals ordered that Ceasar be re-sentenced, and she was ultimately given a 19-year prison term by Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Kiyo Matsumoto for providing material support to ISIS and obstruction of justice.
Weinstein believed that Ceasar needed education and mental health treatment to save her from her ties to terrorism, but prosecutors revealed that she resumed communicating with ISIS almost immediately after being released on supervised release in July 2020. Ceasar attempted to flee to Russia after the appeals court overturned Weinstein’s decision by cutting off her ankle monitoring bracelet. She was apprehended hiding at an auto body shop in New Mexico. Ceasar had aspirations of joining ISIS and becoming a martyr, even trying to marry an ISIS wannabe, Fareed Mumuni, who is serving a 25-year sentence for planning to attack an FBI agent.
During her sentencing, federal prosecutors asked for a sentence of 30 to 70 years in prison for Ceasar. Her attorney, Deirdre von Dornum of the Federal Defenders of New York, expressed disappointment with the sentencing, noting that Ceasar suffers from mental health issues and pointing out the failure of the federal criminal justice system. Ceasar’s attorneys have mentioned that she was raped as a child and suffers from PTSD, contributing to her involvement with ISIS. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the sentencing as a fitting outcome for someone who assisted ISIS in recruiting and promoting extremist ideologies online.
United States Attorney John Durham emphasized the significance of Ceasar’s long prison term in protecting Americans both domestically and abroad from her violent extremism. Despite arguments about Ceasar’s mental health issues, she will be incarcerated for a substantial period of time. Ceasar’s case highlights the challenges faced by the justice system in dealing with individuals who have been radicalized and are in need of mental health support. The sentencing decision reflects a balance between incapacitating someone who poses a threat and providing the necessary mental health resources for rehabilitation.
Ceasar’s unsuccessful attempt to escape capture after her initial sentence was overturned underscores the seriousness of her involvement with ISIS and her commitment to extremist ideologies. Despite claims about her traumatic past experiences and mental health struggles, Ceasar’s actions in support of ISIS and her continued efforts to promote radical views online ultimately led to her lengthy prison term. The case has brought attention to the complexities of dealing with individuals who have been radicalized and the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses both mental health concerns and national security threats. Ceasar’s sentence serves as a warning about the repercussions of engaging in terrorist activities and the impact it can have on individuals and society as a whole.
