ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — A man from Upper Saint Clair has been indicted by a federal grand jury after he was charged with making a false statement about international terrorism to a department or agency.
The Department of Justice said Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, lied to FBI agents during an investigation involving international terrorism on Oct. 20. He arrested in Chicago and charged on Dec. 6 and brought back to Pittsburgh on Dec. 30.
Molloy, a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, traveled to Lebanon in August with a desire to join Hezbollah (Hizballah), a foreign terrorist organization. He also traveled from Lebanon to Syria in October in an effort to join Hezbollah’s Syrian branch, officials said.
The affidavit alleges that Molloy also supported and idolized violence and wanted to kill Jews, as evidenced by multiple images and videos on his electronic devices and the names he chose as his monikers for his social media and email accounts, officials said.
Molloy returned to the United States and was living in Upper St. Clair, where he continued to engage in conduct consistent with his desire to join Hezbollah. Upon arriving at the Pittsburgh International Airport on Oct. 20, he lied to agents of the FBI when he told them that he had no current or future plans to become involved with Hizballah and he had no business in, nor was he meeting with anyone, in Syria.
Federal officials said these statements and representations were false because Molloy knew at that time that he did have current and future plans to become involved with Hezbollah and he travelled to Syria in furtherance of his attempts to join Hezbollah, and while in Syria, set up a meeting with a person there.
Federal officials also said while he was residing in Upper St. Clair, Molloy also allegedly visited a website detailing the possible incarceration location of Robert Bowers, who carried out the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting
“As alleged, Jack Molloy, an avowed adherent of Hizballah harboring deep-seated animus against Jews, took many steps over a period of months—at home and abroad—in his effort to join and fight for this deadly foreign terrorist organization,” said U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan. “This case is yet another sobering reminder of the threat of radicalized violence against Americans. And while the defendant appears to have worked hard to achieve his terrorist goals, today’s charges demonstrate that the resolve of our office and our partners in law enforcement is stronger. We will continue working every day to ensure that members of the Jewish community and every other community in this country can live their lives without fear that they will be targeted by a hate-fueled terrorist attack.”
Molloy faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000 or both. Each of the false statement charges carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.
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