Federal prosecutors charged a San Diego nonprofit operator with conspiring to support Iranian-backed Hamas terrorists through fundraising campaigns that allegedly collected more than $600,000.

Authorities said Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi directed money to Hamas-linked operatives, attempted to transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars through cryptocurrency, and used some donor funds for personal expenses.

Sabassi, a 38-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant issued in the Southern District of New York. He made his initial court appearance in the Southern District of California, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Steve B. Chu ordered him held pending further proceedings after finding him to be a flight risk.

Sabassi was charged with conspiring to provide material support to Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization; conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act; conspiring to commit wire fraud; conspiring to commit money laundering; and making false statements, the Justice Department announced.

If convicted, Sabassi faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the first four counts and five years on the false statements charge.

"The defendant allegedly claimed to be raising money for charity but was actually funding the terrorist organization Hamas and also lining his own pockets," Donald Holstead, assistant director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, said in a statement.

"The FBI will use all our authorities to put a stop to those who seek to support the violent actions carried out by organizations like Hamas."

The criminal complaint alleges Sabassi operated Ikram, a San Diego-based nonprofit that solicited donations ostensibly for humanitarian relief in Gaza.

He worked closely with an unindicted co-conspirator described as the operator of Gaza Now, a Gaza-based organization that prosecutors allege promoted Hamas propaganda and fundraising.

Sabassi allegedly created multiple online fundraising campaigns that collectively raised approximately $604,000 from thousands of donors, including more than 100 in the Southern District of New York.

Prosecutors allege he discussed ways to avoid law enforcement detection with co-conspirators, including the use of cryptocurrency transactions, anonymous wallets, virtual private networks, and avoiding references to Hamas in transaction descriptions.

The complaint states he tried to convert roughly $382,000 of donor money into cryptocurrency for transfer to a wallet allegedly supplied by Hamas-linked associates.

Prosecutors said the conversion effort ultimately failed because intermediaries retained the funds or failed to complete the transaction.

The complaint alleges Sabassi sent approximately $116,000 to a man the FBI says is a Hamas member living in Turkey.

Prosecutors also allege he sent another $10,000 through a separate intermediary for transfer overseas.

A significant portion of the complaint focuses on Sabassi's online activity.

The FBI alleges he posted and shared Hamas propaganda; distributed a one-hour compilation video of footage from Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel assembled from the official al-Qassam Brigades Telegram channel; maintained social media accounts that praised Hamas and promoted Hamas-related content; and stored hundreds of Hamas-related photos, videos, and documents on his electronic devices, including material sourced from al-Qassam Brigades channels.

The FBI alleges that even though Sabassi told donors the funds would be used for Gaza aid, he transferred fundraising proceeds into personal accounts.

The money was used for rent payments, credit card bills, cryptocurrency purchases, and other personal expenses.

He later told agents he moved approximately $6,000 into his personal bank account and about $5,000 into a personal crypto account.

"Today's announcement should serve as a stark reminder that the FBI and our partners on the Joint Terrorism Task Forces will remain vigilant in our effort to prevent terrorism as well as hold terrorists, and those who provide support to terrorist organizations, accountable for their actions," Holstead said.