Kim Anh Vo

Early Life

Kim Anh Vo was born in 1998 or 1999 in Georgia, United States. She grew up and attended school in Hephzibah, Georgia, with her high school located approximately 20 minutes southwest of Augusta. From an early age she demonstrated a strong interest in computers and programming, spending much of her time after school on her computer. She also expressed an interest in pursuing a career in information technology with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Hacking Activity

In April 2016, Vo joined the United Cyber Caliphate, also referred to as the Islamic State Hacking Division. She was associated with a sector of the group called the Kalachnikov E-Security Team. During her involvement, which extended through 2018, she participated in and assisted operations aimed at releasing confidential and private information about individuals, including members of the United States Armed Forces. This information was published in data compilations known as kill lists, one of which contained the personal information of approximately 8,700 U.S. citizens.

Vo operated under several online aliases, including F@ng, Zozo, Miss. Bones, and Kitty Lee. In addition to data operations, she actively spread Islamic State propaganda and related content across social media platforms, including posts calling for violence against people in New York and Brooklyn. She also made statements in Islamic State chatrooms and published social media posts containing phrases such as "We want them #Dead."

Recruitment and Threats

Vo played a role in recruiting others to join the Islamic State Hacking Division. Among those she recruited was a 14-year-old Norwegian boy, who subsequently called for attacks against individuals in New York. Vo and the boy jointly produced a video in which they threatened a nonprofit organization that worked to counter extremist ideologies, including those of the Islamic State.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

On March 12, 2019, Vo was arrested at her home following a formal indictment by a New York federal judge. She was charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a violation of the Patriot Act. Following her arrest, she was held in the Southern District of New York.

In April 2020, Vo was granted bail set at $25,000, which was signed by her mother and a family friend. The terms of her release placed her under house arrest in Evans, Georgia, with electronic monitoring and strict supervision. Her conditions also required mental health and therapy sessions conducted via telemedicine. Her permitted travel was restricted to the Southern District of New York and the relevant Georgia federal judicial district, along with points necessary for travel between the two.