Military Families Push for $777M ISIS Settlement Fund

After a French cement giant admitted to paying ISIS millions to keep its factory running in Syria, American military families are asking a simple question: when will they see the money set aside for them?

Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy became a quadriplegic in 2017 while clearing an ISIS booby-trapped hospital in Raqqa, Syria. His wife Lindsey now cares for him and their four children, including their oldest son who has cerebral palsy requiring 24-hour care. The family is part of a lawsuit representing nearly 1,000 plaintiffs seeking compensation from funds already collected by the Justice Department.

In April, a French court convicted Lafarge, the world's largest cement manufacturer, of providing material support to terrorists. The company paid more than $6.5 million to ISIS between 2013 and 2014 to keep its Syrian factory operational. Eight former employees were found guilty, and the former CEO received a six-year prison sentence.

Back in October 2022, Lafarge had already settled with U.S. authorities, paying $777 million into a Justice Department asset forfeiture fund specifically meant to compensate victims of ISIS attacks. That money has remained untouched for over two years.

The families waiting include Hailey Dayton, who was 15 when she opened her door on Thanksgiving Day 2016 expecting to see her father. Instead, she found Navy officers with tears in their eyes. Her dad was the first American killed by ISIS in Syria.

Todd Toral, a U.S. Marine and lawyer representing about 25 families, calls the case significant because it marks the first time a corporation and its executives have faced accountability for aiding terrorism. The cement Lafarge produced didn't just generate profits. It built the tunnels and bunkers that helped ISIS fighters.

Why This Inspires

After years of legal battles, these families are finally seeing corporate accountability for terrorism support. A French court's landmark ruling proves that companies can't hide behind business interests when they fund violence. While the money can't undo the pain these families have endured, it represents recognition of their sacrifice and a deterrent for future corporate misconduct. The fight for justice continues, but the guilty verdict itself marks progress in holding powerful entities accountable.

In February, lawmakers began pressing the Justice Department about releasing the funds now that the French case has concluded with convictions.