The dual U.S.-Lebanese citizen Ali Farhat, 59, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday for allegedly conspiring to launder money and support the Hezbollah terror organization, the U.S. Justice Department stated. He faces up to 40 years in prison for the two charges.
Farhat owns and operates a Lebanese company, which resells electronics equipment, which it purchases in the United States, the Middle East and Africa, per the indictment, which alleges that a Hezbollah station was a client of the company.
“Al Manar TV was designed to cultivate support for Hezbollah by, among other things, raising money for its activities and recruiting volunteers for future attacks,” the Justice Department stated. It adds that Farhat and the company conspired with a relative of his and others to purchase audio and video equipment, which they shipped overseas, for sale to Al Manar TV or front companies associated with it.
“Farhat allegedly arranged for the purchase of these items in a convoluted manner, designed to obscure the source of the funds and the intended destination of the items,” the Justice Department stated. Using a bank account in a third person’s name, Farhat allegedly paid the co-conspirator $1.192 million, and is also accused of having “caused” other co-conspirators to send another $130,000 to the person.
Money orders valued at $396,160 were also paid to co-conspirators in the United States, per the indictment.
