Pennsylvania man who served in Army indicted on charges he attempted to join Hezbollah ‘to kill Jews’: DOJ

A Pennsylvania man, Jack Danaher Molloy, is facing charges for attempting to join the terrorist group Hezbollah with the intention of “killing Jews,” as reported by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Molloy, a 24-year-old dual U.S. and Irish citizen who had served in the U.S. Army, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh for allegedly traveling to Lebanon and Syria last year to join the Iran-backed organization, despite knowing it is designated as a terrorist group by the U.S.

According to an affidavit, Molloy converted to Islam in 2024 and reached out to contacts in Lebanon in August of that year to express his desire to become a Hezbollah fighter. His contacts advised him to take further steps before joining. Molloy then traveled to Syria in October 2024 and made another attempt to join the group. Upon his return to the U.S., he lied to FBI agents at Pittsburgh International Airport about his intentions and activities in Syria.

The DOJ alleges that Molloy continued his efforts to join Hezbollah even after returning to the U.S. He had also expressed hatred towards Jewish people and promoted violence against them on social media. Court documents revealed that he shared antisemitic sentiments online and told a family member about his plan to join Hezbollah and “kill Jews.”

While residing in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, Molloy allegedly visited a website that detailed the possible incarceration location of Robert Bowers, who carried out the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting that resulted in the deaths of 11 Jews.

If convicted, Molloy could face up to 20 years in prison for the material support charge and up to eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both for the false statement charges. The DOJ is pursuing the case against him, and he faces a maximum penalty of 28 years in prison.

This incident sheds light on the ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and extremism, as individuals like Molloy attempt to join and support terrorist organizations. It also underscores the importance of monitoring and addressing online radicalization and hate speech that can incite violence against specific groups.