A La Palma, California woman is facing additional charges of aiding terrorism. The woman, a Turkish national, has been held in federal prison since late August after it was discovered that she has sent money to an undisclosed person in Pakistan. The new charges stem from those money transfer, which are alleged to have happened on three separate occasions for a total of just over two thousand dollars. The exchanges started late last year.

The woman, 39 year old Oytun Ayse Mihalik is facing a total of four charges stemming from this investigation, including the first one that she was charged with, making a false statement. It was that charge that led to her initial arrest in August. Three other charges of providing materials to support terrorism have recently been added. A trial date for those charges has not been set at this time.

Mihalik, a former pharmacist, is accused of lying to federal interviewers on August 8 at an international airport. She was trying to board a flight to Turkey on August 27 with a one way ticket when she was detained and then later taken into federal custody. Mihalik originally entered a plea of not guilty to the false statement charge but has reportedly been cooperating with federal authorities following her initial court appearance.

According to federal prosecutors, Mihalik had said that she was sending money to a family friend who had fallen on hard times and needed the financial support when she was questioned. She later said that she had only sent the money one time. During that interview, Mihalik also denied that she had ever used an alias in to send money.

If convicted of all four of the charges she faces, Mihalik could be sentenced to a total of fifty three years in prison.

Prosecutors allege that Mihalik knew that the money was being used to prepare, plan and then carry out attacks on US military personnel as well as others overseas. There has been no details released about how authorities were tipped off to the money transfers or to whom that money has been sent. There has also been no explanation of how it was determined that the money was being earmarked for terrorist activities. No plans or threats have been discussed involving the money that was alleged to have been sent by Mihalik to her unknown contact in Pakistan. Mihalik will remain in custody of the federal authorities at this time.