Pennsylvania Man Accused of Attempting to Join Hezbollah Terrorist Organization
A 24-year-old man from Pennsylvania, who briefly served in the U.S. Army, is accused of traveling to Lebanon and Syria in an attempt to join the terrorist organization.
Jack Danaher Molloy faces charges of attempting to support the foreign terrorist organization Hezbollah and making untruthful statements related to international terrorism to a U.S. agency, according to the DOJ.
Molloy was taken into custody in Chicago on December 6 and moved to Pittsburgh on December 30. He holds dual citizenship in the United States and Ireland and had a brief tenure in the U.S. Army.
The indictment suggests that Molloy traveled to Lebanon in August with the intent of joining the terrorist organization.
During his time there, the DOJ indicated that Molloy was advised by several individuals that the timing was not right and that he needed to take additional steps before he could become a member.
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Following his journey to Lebanon, Molloy allegedly traveled to Syria in October to fight for the organization. After returning to the U.S., he reportedly continued his efforts to affiliate with Hezbollah, communicating with individuals both online and in Lebanon.
Furthermore, Molloy reportedly exhibited antisemitism, expressing contempt for Jewish people and promoting violence against them. His electronic devices revealed materials reflecting his antisemitic beliefs, and he used the username “KIKEKILLER313” on X, as stated by the DOJ.
In a WhatsApp conversation with a family member, Molloy disclosed that his primary plan was to align with Hezbollah and target Jews. He also explored a website that detailed the prison location of Robert Bowers, the perpetrator of the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, which resulted in the deaths of 11 Jewish worshippers.
The charge of providing false statements to federal authorities relates to an incident when Molloy arrived at Pittsburgh International Airport on October 20. Upon being questioned, he allegedly claimed he had no intentions of joining Hezbollah or meeting anyone associated with the group in Syria.
The complaint notes that Molloy converted to Islam in February 2024, adopting the Shiite sect.
His service in the U.S. Army lasted from March 2019 to April 2019. Later, on September 1, 2021, he signed a contract with the U.S. Army Reserve as a cadet with the U.S. Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), although he is no longer part of the ROTC.
Molloy also interacted with numerous individuals via WhatsApp, where one woman advised him to attend a mosque frequented by Hezbollah members to pursue his objective of joining the group.
“You should definitely go. You’ll be able to meet new people there—many Shia, many Hezbollah members,” she told Molloy. “It’s really beneficial for you, and you’re going to connect with people who share your mentality and objectives, unlike meeting Christians where you don’t have the same perspective.”
In another voice message, the same woman emphasized the importance of learning Arabic: “It’s going to be essential. I believe that Hezbollah has requirements where members need to have lived in Lebanon for about two years before they can join. But you should confirm it, perhaps by asking those affiliated with Hezbollah or Shiites who might have insight.”
If found guilty, Molloy could face a maximum of 20 years in prison for the terrorism-related charge and up to eight years for making false statements, alongside a potential $250,000 fine.
