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

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

Federal authorities accused 38-year-old Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi of raising roughly $600,000 through online fundraising campaigns that he claimed would provide aid to civilians in Gaza, but which investigators say were actually intended to support Hamas.

Sabassi of San Diego was arrested Wednesday and appeared before a US magistrate judge in federal court, according to the United States Department of Justice.

He faces five counts, including conspiracy to provide material support to Hamas, sanctions evasion, wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements. The most serious charges each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if he is convicted.

“As alleged in the complaint, the defendant exploited the barbaric acts of terror perpetrated on October 7, 2023, to attract donors to his fraudulent ‘humanitarian’ causes,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.

“He allegedly raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through this scheme, which he then funneled to Hamas to help finance that group’s terror and violence and to line his own pockets.”

Sabassi publicly supported Hamas online and allegedly created an hourlong propaganda video glorifying the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel, posting it to social media multiple times, including on the second anniversary of the massacre, according to prosecutors.

Authorities say Sabassi operated a charity called Ikram — The Arab Charity Foundation Inc., which he used alongside crowdfunding websites and social media accounts to solicit donations from supporters around the world.

Investigators allege Sabassi privately joked with a co-conspirator about naming one fundraiser after Hamas’ armed wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, before deciding to use the Ikram charity name instead.

Prosecutors further allege Sabassi worked with Gaza Now, which authorities described as a Hamas fundraising organization, to move money to the group.

Between December 2023 and February 2024, Sabassi allegedly raised approximately $600,000 through online campaigns. Of that amount, prosecutors claim he sent about $116,000 directly to a Hamas member and attempted to convert another $382,000 into cryptocurrency to transfer to Hamas through Gaza Now.

“Hamas promotes attacks against the US and has murdered dozens of Americans through acts of terror,” said Jay Clayton, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. “Our arrest of Reda Sabassi demonstrates our whole-of-government commitment to prosecute those who provide financial support to a malign terrorist regime that hates America.”

Federal investigators said Sabassi allegedly used charitable appeals to conceal his true intentions.

“The defendant allegedly claimed to be raising money for charity but was actually funding the terrorist organization Hamas and also lining his own pockets,” said Donald Holstead.

Meanwhile, James C. Barnacle Jr. said Sabassi allegedly “raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund the death and tragedy Hamas seeks to carry out.”

According to the complaint, Hamas — formally known as Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyya — has been designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization since 1997. Prosecutors noted the group’s stated goal is the destruction of Israel and cited the Oct. 7 attacks, in which Hamas militants killed more than 1,000 people and abducted more than 200 others.

This is not the first time San Diego has been at the center of federal terrorism-related cases in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, three men, including an ex-Navy sailor, were arrested in an FBI investigation alleging an ISIS-linked plot to target US Special Forces, according to federal court filings.

Authorities said the group discussed acquiring weapons and providing support to the terrorist organization after being monitored through an undercover operation.

In a separate case reported the same month, a California man arrested in connection with the alleged plot told his attorney he was a recent college graduate with no criminal history, while prosecutors said he participated in extremist communications tied to the investigation.

The case against Sabassi is being prosecuted by federal prosecutors in New York with assistance from the Justice Department’s National Security Division and multiple FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces.

If convicted, Sabassi’s sentence would ultimately be determined by a federal judge.

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