A Pennsylvania man who briefly served in the U.S. military, is accused of attempting to join the terrorist militant group Hezbollah in an effort to “murder Jews,” according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, was indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for allegedly traveling to Lebanon and Syria last year to join the Iran-backed group despite knowing it was a U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
According to an affidavit, Molloy, a dual U.S. and Irish citizen who previously served on active duty, is in the armyhas tried several times to join the terrorist organization.
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Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, was indicted by a grand jury on charges of attempting to provide support to the foreign terrorist organization Hezbollah and making false statements regarding international terrorism to a department or agency of the United States. (Ministry of Justice)
The DOJ said the 24-year-old converted to Islam in 2024.
After his conversion, he contacted people in Lebanon in August 2024 while in the country to become a Hezbollah fighter, the DOJ alleges. His contacts responded that the time was not right and that he needed to take further steps.
Molloy went to Syria in October 2024 and tried to rejoin. On his flight back to the US, the DOJ said, he lied to FBI agents at Pittsburgh International Airport when he said he had no intention of joining Hezbollah, that he had nothing to do with Syria and that he had not met anyone there.
When he returned to the United States, he continued his efforts to join the organization, according to the DOJ.
Hezbollah terrorists train in southern Lebanon, near the Israeli border. (AP/Hassan Ammar)
Authorities allege Molloy expressed hatred and promoted violence against Jewish people through social media.
An affidavit reviewed by Fox News Digital said Molloy posted anti-Semitic sentiments on social media.
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Court documents also revealed that he told a relative that his “master plan was to join Hezbollah and kill Jews.”
Jack Danaher Molloy faces a maximum prison sentence of 28 years. (Ministry of Justice)
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While Molloy was living in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, he also reportedly visited a website detailing the possible incarceration location of Robert Bowers, who carried out the murder. Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting that killed eleven Jews.
If convicted, Molloy faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for material support charges. For the false statement charge, he faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.
