U.S. charges San Diego resident with allegedly funneling fundraiser proceeds to Hamas

Traders Union
All News
Financial News
San Diego fundraiser Hamas charges

Highlights

Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi is charged with five federal counts for allegedly raising about $600,000 via online campaigns and diverting funds to Hamas and personal use.
Prosecutors allege Sabassi sent about $116,000 to a Hamas member and tried to convert about $382,000 into cryptocurrency for Hamas between December 2023 and February 2024.
The case highlights intensified U.S. enforcement against alleged terror financing through digital donations, involving the FBI and multiple federal agencies.

Complaint details and alleged fundraising scheme

As reported by the U.S. Department of Justice, a five-count complaint accuses Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi, 38, of using social media accounts, crowdfunding sites and his charity, Ikram, to solicit donations from people in the U.S. and abroad while allegedly diverting the proceeds to Hamas and for personal use. He is arrested in San Diego and appears before U.S. Magistrate Judge Steve B. Chu in the Southern District of California.

Prosecutors allege Sabassi publicly supports Hamas online and posts propaganda related to the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel, including an hour-long video shared on at least two social media accounts. The complaint says that, since at least 2022, he runs fundraising campaigns that claim to support humanitarian relief in Gaza but actually serve Hamas.

According to the complaint, Sabassi works with the Hamas fundraising organization Gaza Now and other co-conspirators to operate the campaigns. Between about December 2023 and February 2024, he allegedly raises about $600,000, sends about $116,000 to a Hamas member, and attempts to convert about $382,000 into cryptocurrency for transfer to Hamas through Gaza Now.

Legal exposure and enforcement impact

Sabassi is charged with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, conspiring to commit wire fraud, conspiring to commit money laundering, and making false statements. Four of those counts carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison, while the false statements count carries a maximum penalty of five years.

The case underscores ongoing U.S. enforcement pressure on alleged terror financing networks that use online donation platforms and charitable appeals to move funds. The Justice Department says the investigation involves the FBI's New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other federal units, while noting that the charges are allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Our earlier article on House Financial Services Committee Republicans’ push to update U.S. AML/CFT rules explained how lawmakers urged FinCEN to reduce unnecessary compliance burdens while improving the usefulness of reporting for law enforcement. We noted proposals to raise outdated reporting thresholds and expand AI-driven risk monitoring so enforcement can focus more tightly on higher-risk financial crime activity.

This material may contain third-party opinions, none of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer. While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners.