JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Florida man is facing extensive federal terrorism and money laundering charges in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida after federal authorities unsealed multi-jurisdictional indictments targeting an international network accused of funneling over $2 million to Hamas, Department of Justice officials announced.
56-year-old Raed Yousef of Lutz, Florida, was charged in the Middle District of Florida for allegedly sending nearly $50,000 to a global fundraising apparatus operated out of Gaza under the guise of humanitarian charitable donations.
Florida Defendant Faces Multi-Count Federal Indictment
According to court records filed in the Middle District of Florida—which encompasses federal divisions stretching from Jacksonville to Tampa—Yousef played a key role in supporting the financial pipeline of Saleem Alzaq, a Gaza-based Hamas operative.
Yousef has been charged in a 19-count federal indictment that includes:
- One count of conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO)
- Five counts of attempting to provide material support to an FTO
- One count of providing funds, goods, and services to a specially designated terrorist
- Five counts of attempting to provide funds, goods, and services to a specially designated terrorist
- One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering
- Five counts of money laundering
- One count of passport fraud
If convicted, Yousef faces a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for each of the material support and money laundering counts, and up to 5 years for passport fraud.
Middle District Leadership Emphasizes Security
U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe for the Middle District of Florida emphasized that financial enablers in Florida will face aggressive federal prosecution regardless of where the receiving organizations operate globally.
“Providing financial assistance and support to terrorist organizations like Hamas places the safety and security of everyone, anywhere in the world, at risk,” said U.S. Attorney Kehoe. “The diligence and cooperation exhibited by our domestic and international law enforcement partners during this investigation demonstrates our collective resolve to relentlessly pursue, disrupt, and prosecute those who engage in these illegal activities.”
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lindsey Schmidt and Michael Buchanan for the Middle District of Florida are prosecuting the case against Yousef.
The Scope of the Global Scheme
The case against Yousef is part of a coordinated international crackdown involving federal courts in New York, Louisiana, and Florida, alongside French law enforcement.
- The Gaza Ring Leader: Saleem Alzaq, 45, a member of Hamas’s armed wing (the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades) and battalion deputy in Gaza, allegedly launched online campaigns in January 2020 soliciting charitable donations for civilians in Gaza. Federal prosecutors allege the funds were diverted directly to Hamas military infrastructure.
- Domestic Co-Defendants: In addition to Yousef’s Florida charges, two brothers from Covington, Louisiana—Abdel Adhami, 35, and Omar Adhami, 33—were arrested for funneling over $105,000 combined to Alzaq’s network using wire transfers and intermediaries.
- International Arrests: In France, the French General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) arrested three of Alzaq’s European intermediaries—Faouzi Barika, Amel Oualid, and Nordine Barika—for facilitating international transfers.
Federal agents and NYPD counterterrorism analysts traced cryptocurrency, wire transfers, and illicit payments totaling more than $1.7 million to $2 million managed through Alzaq’s campaigns.