Washington — An electrical engineer employed by the Department of Energy has been apprehended on allegations of aiding Iranian-supported Houthi rebels. The charges include procuring materials for improvised explosives and drones, as well as traveling to Yemen, as announced by the Justice Department on Thursday.
Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, from Richland, Washington, was taken into custody on Thursday and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Friday. Currently, there is no attorney listed in court records to represent him.
The FBI reports that Ellaboudy aimed to assist the Houthis in enhancing their communication capabilities. He traveled to Yemen last September, where ongoing hostilities between the Houthis and Saudi-backed government forces have resulted in numerous fatalities and the displacement of tens of thousands. This conflict commenced in 2014 when the Iran-aligned rebels seized control of the capital, Sanaa, forcing the government into exile in Saudi Arabia.
According to the Justice Department, Ellaboudy used a passport obtained during his tenure with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reach Oman, which borders Yemen.
Upon returning to the United States, authorities claim that Ellaboudy informed Customs and Border Protection officials that he was returning from Oman on a work-related trip, asserting he was part of a U.S. government mission to inspect missile defense systems. However, an interview with Ellaboudy’s supervisor revealed no knowledge of any international travel or an Energy Department missile inspection program that he might have been involved in, as noted in an FBI affidavit.
The FBI states that Ellaboudy was recorded conversing with informants introduced into the investigation, revealing he needed to be smuggled into and out of Yemen and intended to establish connections with government officials in the capital, Sanaa, although he ultimately could not reach the city.
Investigators began probing Ellaboudy after discovering that he had acquired precursor chemicals typically used in the creation of homemade explosive devices, such as acetone and sodium bisulfate, along with components for drones.
During the investigation, the FBI noted that he communicated with several informants, including one who claimed to be a Houthi colonel, offering counsel and support concerning communication technology.
Ellaboudy faces charges under a statute prohibiting the provision of material support to organizations recognized by the United States as foreign terrorist groups, which includes the Houthis.
“These allegations are so profoundly alarming that they strain belief,” stated John Eisenberg, the assistant attorney general overseeing the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
If found guilty, Ellaboudy could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison, according to the Justice Department.
