Dearborn Resident Charged with Attempting to Support a Foreign Terrorist Organization
| U.S. Attorney’s Office March 17, 2014 |
A 22-year-old Dearborn, Michigan resident was charged today in a criminal complaint with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, specifically Hizballah, announced United States Attorney Barbara L. McQuade.
Joining in the announcement was Paul Abbate, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Detroit Division.
Mohammad Hassan Hamdan appeared in federal court in Detroit this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge R. Steven Whalen where he was temporarily detained pending a detention hearing, which will take place on Monday, March 24 at 1 p.m.
The complaint alleges that on March 16, 2014, Hamdan attempted to fly to Lebanon and onto Syria to fight on behalf of Hizballah in the Syrian civil war. Hizballah is a designated terrorist organization under U.S. law, which makes it illegal to provide money, goods, or services to a terrorist organization. Hamdan is a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. who immigrated in 2007.
If convicted, Hamdan faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
A criminal complaint contains merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.