DOJ Alleges San Diego Charity Boss Funneled $600K to Hamas
Federal prosecutors have charged a San Diego nonprofit operator with allegedly running a fundraising operation that collected more than $600,000 and was later tied to Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization.
Authorities say the donations were raised through online campaigns presented as humanitarian relief for civilians in Gaza but were instead diverted through a mix of international transfers, intermediaries, and personal spending.
The case centers on Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi, 38, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was arrested Tuesday on a federal warrant and remains in custody after a judge found him to be a flight risk.
The complaint outlines allegations that Sabassi operated a nonprofit called Ikram, which relied on social media fundraising and crowdfunding platforms to attract thousands of donors across the United States and abroad.
According to federal filings, the fundraising effort generated roughly $604,000.
Officials contend that the money moved through a combination of digital payment systems and informal intermediaries, including at least $116,000 allegedly sent directly to an individual identified as a Hamas member based in Turkey.
The filing also describes an additional $382,000 that was intended for conversion into cryptocurrency for onward transfer, though portions of those transactions were never completed.
Beyond those transfers, the complaint describes what investigators characterize as personal enrichment and financial concealment layered into the operation.
Portions of donor money were allegedly redirected into personal accounts and used for everyday expenses such as rent and credit card payments, while digital tools and encrypted communications were used to obscure how funds were being moved.
Officials say Sabassi also advised avoiding direct references to Hamas in financial records and transaction descriptions in an effort to reduce scrutiny.
Federal officials further point to an extensive online footprint that, they say, went beyond fundraising and into ideological promotion.
Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg said Sabassi allegedly used fraudulent humanitarian campaigns to raise money for Hamas and personal gain.
Separately, court filings allege Sabassi shared Hamas propaganda online, distributed content related to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in Israel, and maintained extensive collections of Hamas-related media on electronic devices.
The complaint also references coordination with individuals linked to Gaza Now, a platform described in court documents as part of a broader fundraising ecosystem associated with Hamas-supporting activity.
Private communications cited in the filing describe discussions between Sabassi and associates about how to structure campaigns to maximize donations while avoiding explicit references to Hamas.
Those conversations reportedly included experimenting with branding strategies before ultimately operating under the Ikram nonprofit name as the public-facing vehicle for the fundraising effort, according to The New York Times.
Sabassi faces five federal charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, sanctions violations, wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements.
If convicted on the most serious counts, he could face up to 20 years in prison per charge, along with additional penalties tied to the false statement allegation under federal sentencing rules.
Authorities say the donations were raised through online campaigns presented as humanitarian relief for civilians in Gaza but were instead diverted through a mix of international transfers, intermediaries, and personal spending.
The case centers on Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi, 38, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was arrested Tuesday on a federal warrant and remains in custody after a judge found him to be a flight risk.
The complaint outlines allegations that Sabassi operated a nonprofit called Ikram, which relied on social media fundraising and crowdfunding platforms to attract thousands of donors across the United States and abroad.
According to federal filings, the fundraising effort generated roughly $604,000.
Officials contend that the money moved through a combination of digital payment systems and informal intermediaries, including at least $116,000 allegedly sent directly to an individual identified as a Hamas member based in Turkey.
The filing also describes an additional $382,000 that was intended for conversion into cryptocurrency for onward transfer, though portions of those transactions were never completed.
Beyond those transfers, the complaint describes what investigators characterize as personal enrichment and financial concealment layered into the operation.
Portions of donor money were allegedly redirected into personal accounts and used for everyday expenses such as rent and credit card payments, while digital tools and encrypted communications were used to obscure how funds were being moved.
Officials say Sabassi also advised avoiding direct references to Hamas in financial records and transaction descriptions in an effort to reduce scrutiny.
Federal officials further point to an extensive online footprint that, they say, went beyond fundraising and into ideological promotion.
Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg said Sabassi allegedly used fraudulent humanitarian campaigns to raise money for Hamas and personal gain.
Separately, court filings allege Sabassi shared Hamas propaganda online, distributed content related to the Oct. 7, 2023 attack in Israel, and maintained extensive collections of Hamas-related media on electronic devices.
The complaint also references coordination with individuals linked to Gaza Now, a platform described in court documents as part of a broader fundraising ecosystem associated with Hamas-supporting activity.
Private communications cited in the filing describe discussions between Sabassi and associates about how to structure campaigns to maximize donations while avoiding explicit references to Hamas.
Those conversations reportedly included experimenting with branding strategies before ultimately operating under the Ikram nonprofit name as the public-facing vehicle for the fundraising effort, according to The New York Times.
Sabassi faces five federal charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, sanctions violations, wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements.
If convicted on the most serious counts, he could face up to 20 years in prison per charge, along with additional penalties tied to the false statement allegation under federal sentencing rules.
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