The U.S. Department of Justice said it arrested and indicted Rada Mazen Rida Sabasi, a 38-year-old San Diego resident, on charges of terrorism financing, fraud and money laundering tied to transfers to Hamas.
According to the indictment, Sabasi used the October 7 attacks to raise about $600,000 through social media and a fake charity he set up. Investigators say he worked with the Palestinian news agency Gaza Now, sent $116,000 directly to a Hamas operative, and tried to convert another $382,000 into cryptocurrency for the terror group.
The case was announced by the Justice Department, which said the alleged fundraising scheme centered on using the post-October 7 environment to solicit money and move it for Hamas.
