Following accusations by U.S. officials that he transferred $9 million in U.S.-funded aid to a terrorist organization, a Syrian national is facing severe charges. The United States Attorney’s Office has unsealed a 12-count indictment against Mahmoud Al Hafyan, 53, for allegedly committing major fraud against the United States by transferring humanitarian aid meant for Syrian civilians to the Al-Nusrah Front, a terrorist group affiliated with al-Qaida.
Since the money originated from USAID, a federal organization devoted to humanitarian aid and global development, corruption seriously hampered the effort to deliver vital humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians. The investigation, which focuses on what they say is the deliberate redirection of aid intended to alleviate the suffering of communities afflicted by war, was unveiled by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves, together with representatives from the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division and the USAID Office of Inspector General (USAID-OIG).
“This defendant not only defrauded the U.S. government, but he also gave the humanitarian aid he stole to a foreign terrorist organization,” U.S. Attorney Graves stated in the press release. The U.S. government has spent approximately $12 billion until 2020 for help through programs run by several organizations, including United Nations agencies and nongovernmental organizations like the one Al Hafyan led, in response to the severe humanitarian catastrophe caused by the civil conflict that has been raging in Syria since 2011.
Originally meant for food and medical supplies, the funds were allegedly diverted to combatant organizations, adding to the difficulties already faced by a war-torn country. “Al Hafyan diverted millions of dollars in USAID funding to support the terrorist organization Al-Nusrah Front, as well to line his own pockets,” FBI Special Agent Sanjay Virmani said in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, describing the money laundering as a theft from American coffers and a support for violent extremism.
According to investigators, Al Hafyan, also known as Abu Abdo Al-Homsi, was in charge of 160 workers at an NGO’s regional office in Syria. This NGO received $122 million from USAID between January 2015 and November 2018, with some of the money allegedly going to ANF commanders under Al Hafyan’s supervision. The terrorist organization, which aims to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has been connected to a number of heinous crimes, including suicide bombings and mass executions.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Seifert, Alexandra Hughes, and Jack Korba are leading the prosecution’s collaborative efforts to bring Al Hafyan to justice in response to the indictment, which was a component of an FBI and USAID-OIG investigation. Al Hafyan is assumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, thus it’s important to remember that an indictment does not equate to a conviction since formal legal proceedings await.
Note: Every piece of content is rigorously reviewed by our team of experienced writers and editors to ensure its accuracy. Our writers use credible sources and adhere to strict fact-checking protocols to verify all claims and data before publication. If an error is identified, we promptly correct it and strive for transparency in all updates, feel free to reach out to us via email. We appreciate your trust and support!
Leave a Reply