San Diego Man Charged Charity Fund Scheme

Building with columns and statues in front of entrance.

A man accused of turning an online “charity” for Gaza into a cash pipeline for Hamas is now a test of how far terror networks have already reached into American communities.

Story Snapshot

Federal prosecutors say San Diego resident Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi raised about $600,000 for a fake Gaza “charity” and funneled money to Hamas and himself.
The Justice Department charged him with terrorism, sanctions evasion, wire fraud, money laundering, and lying to federal agents, with a potential 85-year sentence.^[2]
Officials allege he sent $116,000 to a Hamas member and tried to move $382,000 into cryptocurrency for Hamas through the Gaza Now network.^[2]
The case highlights a wider pattern of sham charities that use emotional crises to move money to terror groups while deceiving well-meaning donors.^[7]^[8]

What Prosecutors Say Happened With This “Charity”

The United States Department of Justice says 38‑year‑old Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi used social media, crowdfunding sites, and a group called Ikram – The Arab Charity Foundation – to raise money he claimed was for “humanitarian aid” in Gaza.^[2] According to the complaint, he began at least by 2022 and focused heavily after the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks, asking people around the world, including Americans, to give to what they thought was relief for suffering families.^[2]

Prosecutors say that between December 2023 and February 2024, Sabassi pulled in about $600,000 through these online appeals.^[2] Instead of sending that money to vetted aid groups, they allege he sent roughly $116,000 to a known Hamas member and tried to turn about $382,000 into cryptocurrency to move through a Hamas‑linked operation called Gaza Now.^[2] Officials also say some of the cash covered personal bills like rent and credit cards, turning charity branding into both a terror pipeline and a personal slush fund.^[1]

The Charges, The Stakes, And The Rule Of Law

The complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, hits Sabassi with five serious counts: conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, conspiring to violate federal sanctions under emergency economic powers law, wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements to investigators.^[2]^[4] Each of the first four charges can bring up to 20 years in prison, while the false statement count carries up to five years, for a total possible sentence of 85 years if he were convicted on all counts.^[2]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and federal prosecutors stress that these are still allegations, and Sabassi is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.^[2]^[4] But they are using strong language to explain why this matters. One top national security official said Sabassi “exploited the barbaric acts of terror” on October 7 to draw donors to “fraudulent ‘humanitarian’ causes,” then “funneled” the money to Hamas and “lined his own pockets.”^[2]^[3] An FBI leader said he allegedly “raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund the death and tragedy Hamas seeks to carry out.”^[4] For conservatives who care about law and order, it shows the system can still act against terror finance at home – if we stay alert and keep the pressure on.

Sham Charities, Hamas, And Why Donors Must Stay On Guard

This case does not stand alone. The United States Treasury Department has warned that Hamas relies heavily on “sham charities” and outside fundraising networks that dress up as humanitarian groups while helping pay for its military wing.^[7]^[8] Treasury has sanctioned multiple foreign “charities” and operatives for using relief language to move millions of dollars to Hamas, often over many years and across borders.^[8] As of early 2024, officials estimate Hamas may have been receiving up to $10 million a month through such donation streams.^[8]

Department of Justice
Press Release
San Diego Resident Charged with Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Hamas
Wednesday, June 17, 2026

The Justice Department today announced the unsealing of a five-count complaint charging Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi, 38, of San Diego,…

— Hiro's gallery (@HiroGallery) June 18, 2026

For everyday Americans, this should be a wake‑up call. Many donors who clicked on Sabassi’s campaigns likely thought they were helping injured children and displaced families, not supporting an organization that chants for Israel’s destruction and praises attacks on civilians.^[2] When emotions are high and images of war are everywhere, bad actors know they can play on compassion to bypass common sense. That is why verifying charities, demanding transparency, and backing strong enforcement against terror finance are not “nice to haves” – they are part of defending our own communities, our allies, and our values.^[7]^[8]