Judge sentences New Yorker ISIS recruiter, ‘Umm Nutella,’ to 19 years in prison

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A New Yorker known as “Umm Nutella” who joined ISIS has been sentenced to nearly two decades in prison after her initial 48-month sentence was overturned by an appeals court. Sinmyah Ceasar, 30, will now serve 19 years behind bars following the decision made by Brooklyn Federal Court Judge Kiyo Matsumoto. This comes after her controversially light sentence of four years handed down by the late Judge Jack Weinstein in 2019.

United States Attorney John Durham expressed that Ceasar, an unrepentant ISIS recruiter, will be incarcerated for a significant period of time to protect Americans from her violent extremism.

Ceasar was charged with providing material support to ISIS in 2016, a crime that carries a potential life sentence. However, she reached a deal with the authorities a year later and was released on supervised release. Despite Weinstein’s belief that she needed education and mental health treatment, Ceasar quickly reconnected with ISIS after her release in July 2020.

Following the appeals court decision in August 2021, which deemed her initial sentence as shockingly low, Ceasar attempted to flee to Russia by cutting off her ankle monitoring bracelet. She was apprehended days later at an auto body shop in New Mexico.

Prosecutors revealed that Ceasar desired to travel and join ISIS to “die as a martyr.” She even tried to marry an ISIS associate who was planning to attack an FBI agent, showcasing her commitment to the extremist group.

Despite facing a potential sentence of 30 to 70 years, Ceasar’s attorney, Deirdre von Dornum, expressed disappointment with the verdict, citing her client’s mental health issues. Ceasar’s defense team has disclosed that she was a victim of childhood sexual assault and suffers from PTSD.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch commended the sentence, stating that it was a fitting outcome for someone who had actively supported ISIS and continued to promote extremist ideologies online.

Ultimately, Ceasar’s case highlights the complexities of addressing radicalization and mental health within the criminal justice system, underscoring the need for comprehensive support and de-radicalization resources for individuals like her.