Washington, D.C. – Federal authorities have taken into custody a 51‑year‑old electrical engineer from Richland, Washington, charging him with clandestinely assisting the Iran‑aligned Houthi faction in Yemen.
Covert travel to Yemen
According to the Department of Justice, the suspect, identified as Ashton Hameed Elaboudi, made an undisclosed trip to Yemen in September of the previous year. An FBI affidavit states that his mission was to establish contacts with Houthi operatives and help upgrade the rebel group’s communications network.
Official story unravels
Upon his return to the United States, Elaboudi informed Customs and Border Protection that he had arrived from Oman on a work‑related assignment, claiming participation in a U.S.‑government effort to evaluate missile‑defence installations. Investigators later discovered that his supervisor was unaware of any such deployment and could locate no Department of Energy program that would justify travel to Yemen or Oman.
Links to Houthi‑associated contacts
FBI records reveal that Elaboudi discussed covert ingress and egress routes for Yemen and expressed a desire to reach the capital, Sana’a, to meet senior Houthi figures. Although he never set foot in the city, the affidavit notes that he corresponded with several informants, one of whom pretended to be a Houthi colonel. In those exchanges, Elaboudi provided technical guidance on communications gear, ostensibly to enhance the rebels’ operational capabilities.
Questionable acquisitions under investigation
The probe also uncovered purchases that could be repurposed for improvised explosive devices and drone components. Prosecutors say these transactions constitute key evidence supporting the indictment.
Federal terrorism indictment
Elaboudi now faces a federal charge of furnishing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, a violation punishable under United States law. He is scheduled to appear before a judge, though no counsel had been listed at the time of reporting. The case is in its early stages, with both the prosecution and defense expected to dispute the affidavit’s evidentiary claims.
