A 24-year-old Pennsylvania man and former U.S. Army soldier, Jack Danaher Molloy, is facing federal charges for allegedly attempting to join the designated terrorist organization Hezbollah, with the intent to "kill Jews," according to the Department of Justice. Molloy, a dual U.S. and Irish citizen, was indicted by a grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization and making false statements involving international terrorism.

The DOJ reports that Molloy converted to Islam in 2024. Following his conversion, he allegedly contacted individuals in Lebanon during a trip there in August 2024, expressing his desire to become a Hezbollah fighter. He was reportedly told that the timing wasn't suitable and further steps were required. Undeterred, Molloy traveled to Syria in October 2024 in another attempt to join the group. Upon his return to the U.S., he allegedly lied to FBI agents at Pittsburgh International Airport, denying any intentions of joining Hezbollah or having conducted business in Syria.

The DOJ alleges that Molloy continued his efforts to join the terrorist organization even after returning to the United States. Court documents reveal that he expressed antisemitic views and promoted violence against Jewish people on social media platforms. He also reportedly confided in a family member about his plan to join Hezbollah and "kill Jews." Furthermore, while residing in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, Molloy allegedly accessed a website detailing the potential incarceration location of Robert Bowers, the perpetrator of the 2018 Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting.

If convicted, Molloy faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for the material support charge and an additional eight years for the false statement charges, along with a potential fine of $250,000.