A former Army soldier has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of attempting to support the foreign terrorist organization Hezbollah and making false statements involving international terrorism to a department or agency of the United States.
According to a Department of Justice release, Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, a former resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was indicted on Jan. 2.
As alleged in court filings, from in and around August 2024 through and around December 2024, in Lebanon, Syria, the Western District of Pennsylvania, and elsewhere, Molloy attempted to provide material support and resources — namely, personnel (including himself) and services — to Hezbollah, knowing that the organization was a designated terrorist organization and that it had engaged in and was engaging in terrorist activity and terrorism.
Hezbollah was formed following the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon and has conducted numerous terrorist attacks against Israeli and Western targets, including against American military and diplomatic personnel.
Molloy — a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland — traveled to Lebanon in August 2024 and attempted to join the organization, according to court documents. While in Lebanon, Molloy was told by multiple individuals that the time was not right and that he needed to take other steps before he could join the terrorist organization.
Molloy then traveled from Lebanon to Syria in October 2024 in an effort to fight for Hezbollah in Syria. After returning to the United States, Molloy resided in Upper St. Clair, where he continued his attempts to join the organizsation, including through communication with individuals online and in Lebanon.
During his time in the United States and abroad, Molloy also allegedly expressed his hatred toward and promoted violence against, Jewish people. Molloy’s alleged animus toward Jews was also evidenced by multiple images and videos on his electronic devices and the usernames he chose for his social media and email accounts, including the username “KIKEKILLER313” on the social media platform X.
In one alleged WhatsApp exchange with a family member, Molloy agreed that his “master plan was to join Hezbollah and kill Jews.” And 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 during which he murdered 11 Jewish worshippers.
The indictment further alleges that, upon arriving at the Pittsburgh International Airport on Oct. 20, 2024, Molloy lied FBI agents when he told them that he had no current or future plans to become involved with Hezbollah and that he had no business in, nor was he meeting with anyone, in Syria.
If convicted, Molloy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on the material support charge. For false statement charges, he faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.