Federal authorities have arrested and charged a San Diego nonprofit operator, Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi, 38, with allegedly orchestrating a scheme to funnel more than $600,000, ostensibly raised for humanitarian relief in Gaza, to Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, and for personal enrichment. Sabassi, a naturalized U.S. citizen, was taken into custody on Tuesday, June 17, 2026, following a federal warrant and remains detained after a judge deemed him a flight risk.
"Sabassi allegedly used fraudulent humanitarian campaigns to raise money for Hamas and personal gain." — Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the charges, which include conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, sanctions violations, wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements. The investigation was led by FBI counterterrorism and financial crime units, and the case is being prosecuted in the Southern District of New York.
According to federal filings, Sabassi operated a nonprofit called Ikram, which reportedly utilized social media and crowdfunding platforms to solicit donations from thousands of individuals across the United States and internationally. The fundraising efforts, presented as support for civilians in Gaza, allegedly generated approximately $604,000. Prosecutors contend that a substantial portion of these funds was not used for its stated humanitarian purpose.
Investigators allege that at least $116,000 of the collected donations was directly transferred to an individual identified as a Hamas member based in Turkey. Furthermore, the complaint details an additional $382,000 that was earmarked for conversion into cryptocurrency for onward transfer, although parts of these transactions were reportedly incomplete. Beyond these alleged transfers to Hamas, federal officials also claim that Sabassi diverted donor money for personal use, including rent and credit card payments.
The complaint outlines a deliberate effort to conceal the true destination of the funds. Sabassi allegedly employed digital tools and encrypted communications to obscure the movement of money. He is also accused of advising associates to avoid explicit references to Hamas in financial records and transaction descriptions to evade scrutiny from authorities.
Assistant Attorney General John Eisenberg commented on the case, stating, "Sabassi allegedly used fraudulent humanitarian campaigns to raise money for Hamas and personal gain." This underscores the federal government's focus on disrupting illicit financial networks that exploit charitable causes.
Beyond the financial allegations, court filings also detail Sabassi's extensive online footprint, which prosecutors say extended to ideological promotion. He is accused of sharing Hamas propaganda online, distributing content related to the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel, and maintaining significant collections of Hamas-related media on his electronic devices. The investigation also uncovered alleged coordination with individuals linked to Gaza Now, a platform described in court documents as part of a broader fundraising ecosystem associated with Hamas-supporting activities.
Private communications cited in the federal filing reportedly reveal discussions between Sabassi and his associates regarding strategies to structure fundraising campaigns. These conversations allegedly focused on maximizing donations while deliberately avoiding explicit mentions of Hamas, with experiments in branding ultimately leading to the use of the Ikram nonprofit name as the public-facing entity for the fundraising initiative, as reported by The New York Times.
If convicted on the most serious charges, Sabassi could face penalties of up to 20 years in prison per count, with additional penalties for the false statement allegation under federal sentencing guidelines. The charges reflect a broader enforcement strategy by federal agencies aimed at dismantling online fundraising operations that exploit charitable branding to channel financial resources to U.S.-designated terrorist organizations. The case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat terrorism financing and ensure the integrity of charitable giving.
