San Diego man snared in alleged terrorism plot raised money for Hamas

A California man who allegedly posed as a humanitarian whereas secretly funneling cash to Hamas and pocketing donations has been arrested on a slate of federal terrorism and fraud prices.

Federal authorities accused 38-year-old Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi of elevating roughly $600,000 via on-line fundraising campaigns that he claimed would present assist to civilians in Gaza, however which investigators say have been really supposed to help Hamas.

Sabassi of San Diego was arrested Wednesday and appeared earlier than a US Justice of the Peace decide in federal courtroom, in accordance with the United States Division of Justice.

He faces 5 counts, together with conspiracy to present materials help to Hamas, sanctions evasion, wire fraud, cash laundering and making false statements. Essentially the most critical prices every carry a most sentence of 20 years in jail if he’s convicted.

“As alleged within the grievance, the defendant exploited the barbaric acts of terror perpetrated on October 7, 2023, to draw donors to his fraudulent ‘humanitarian’ causes,” mentioned Assistant Legal professional Normal for Nationwide Safety John A. Eisenberg.

“He allegedly raised a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} via this scheme, which he then funneled to Hamas to assist finance that group’s terror and violence and to line his personal pockets.”

Sabassi publicly supported Hamas on-line and allegedly created an hourlong propaganda video glorifying the Oct. 7, 2023 assaults in Israel, posting it to social media a number of instances, together with on the second anniversary of the bloodbath, in accordance with prosecutors.

Authorities say Sabassi operated a charity known as Ikram — The Arab Charity Basis Inc., which he used alongside crowdfunding web sites and social media accounts to solicit donations from supporters around the globe.

Investigators allege Sabassi privately joked with a co-conspirator about naming one fundraiser after Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, earlier than deciding to make use of the Ikram charity identify as a substitute.

Prosecutors additional allege Sabassi labored with Gaza Now, which authorities described as a Hamas fundraising group, to maneuver cash to the group.

Between December 2023 and February 2024, Sabassi allegedly raised roughly $600,000 via on-line campaigns. Of that quantity, prosecutors declare he despatched about $116,000 on to a Hamas member and tried to transform one other $382,000 into cryptocurrency to switch to Hamas via Gaza Now.

“Hamas promotes assaults towards the US and has murdered dozens of Individuals via acts of terror,” mentioned Jay Clayton, the US Legal professional for the Southern District of New York. “Our arrest of Reda Sabassi demonstrates our whole-of-government dedication to prosecute those that present monetary help to a malign terrorist regime that hates America.”

Federal investigators mentioned Sabassi allegedly used charitable appeals to hide his true intentions.

“The defendant allegedly claimed to be elevating cash for charity however was really funding the terrorist group Hamas and likewise lining his personal pockets,” mentioned Donald Holstead.

In the meantime, James C. Barnacle Jr. mentioned Sabassi allegedly “raised a whole bunch of hundreds of {dollars} to fund the dying and tragedy Hamas seeks to hold out.”

Based on the grievance, Hamas — formally often called Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya — has been designated by the US as a overseas terrorist group since 1997. Prosecutors famous the group’s acknowledged purpose is the destruction of Israel and cited the Oct. 7 assaults, during which Hamas militants killed greater than 1,000 individuals and kidnapped greater than 200 others.

This isn’t the primary time San Diego has been on the heart of federal terrorism-related instances in current weeks.

Earlier this month, three males, together with an ex-Navy sailor, have been arrested in an FBI investigation alleging an ISIS-linked plot to focus on US Particular Forces, in accordance with federal courtroom filings.

Authorities mentioned the group mentioned buying weapons and offering help to the terrorist group after being monitored via an undercover operation.

In a separate case reported the identical month, a California man arrested in reference to the alleged plot advised his legal professional he was a current school graduate with no prison historical past, whereas prosecutors mentioned he participated in extremist communications tied to the investigation.

The case towards Sabassi is being prosecuted by federal prosecutors in New York with help from the Justice Division’s Nationwide Safety Division and a number of FBI Joint Terrorism Activity Forces.

If convicted, Sabassi’s sentence would in the end be decided by a federal decide.

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