According to the Justice Department, a Pennsylvania man has been charged with trying to support the foreign terrorist organization Hezbollah. The indictment was announced on Thursday.
According to a statement from the Justice Department, Jack Danaher Molloy, a 24-year-old former resident of Pittsburgh, has been charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a terrorist group. This alleged activity took place from August 2024 to December 2024 in Lebanon, Syria, the Western District of Pennsylvania, and other locations.
According to a criminal complaint filed by the Justice Department, Molloy knowingly took these actions, fully aware that the organization he was associated with was classified as a terrorist organization and had been involved in acts of terrorism.
According to a Justice Department release, Molloy, a dual citizen of the US and Ireland who previously served on active duty in the US Army, traveled to Lebanon in August 2024 and attempted to join Hezbollah. However, “multiple individuals” told him that the time was not right and that he needed to take other steps before he could join the terrorist organization.
While living in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, Molloy attempted to join Hezbollah and allegedly communicated with members of the organization online and in Lebanon. He also voiced hatred for Jewish people and encouraged violence against them, according to papers.
“Molloy’s alleged animus toward Jews was also evidenced by multiple images and videos on his electronic devices and the usernames he chose for his social media and email accounts, including the username “KIKEKILLER313″ on the social media platform X. In one alleged WhatsApp exchange with a family member, Molloy agreed that his ‘master plan was to join Hezbollah and kill Jews,'” Justice Department documents show.
He is also accused of visiting a website that displayed the possible detention location of Robert Bowers, the guy responsible for the 2018 Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting that killed 11 Jewish worshipers. It is believed that Molloy supported Bowers.
The indictment also alleges that Molloy lied to FBI investigators at Pittsburgh International Airport in October 2024 about his interactions with Hezbollah members. He stated that he has no current or future plans to become associated with the organization and that he has no business in Syria and is not meeting with anyone there.
“These statements and representations were false because Molloy knew at that time that (1) he did have current and future plans to become involved with Hizballah and (2) Molloy travelled to Syria in furtherance of his attempts to join Hezbollah, and while in Syria, set up a meeting with an individual there,” the Justice Department release said.
If Molloy is found guilty of the material support and false statement charges, he could potentially face a prison sentence of up to 28 years and a hefty fine of $250,000.
