Ex-Upper St. Clair man indicted on terrorism charges
An Army veteran formerly from Upper St. Clair has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly trying to support the terrorist group Hezbollah and lying to the FBI about his involvement with the organization, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh.
The three-count indictment handed down against Jack D. Molloy, 24, claims he tried to provide material support to Hezbollah between August and December in Lebanon, Syria and Western Pennsylvania.
He had been charged with making false statement in a Dec. 6 criminal complaint. He was arrested in Chicago on Dec. 6 and taken by federal marshals to Pittsburgh on Dec. 30.
Molloy traveled from Lebanon to Syria in October in an effort to fight for Hezbollah, which has attacked Israel and American military and diplomatic targets.
Upon his return home in October, the indictment alleges he lied to FBI agents at Pittsburgh International Airport when he told them he did not plan to become involved with Hezbollah.
Molloy also allegedly visited a website detailing the possible incarceration location of Robert Bowers, who killed 11 Jewish worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill in 2018.
If Molloy would be convicted, he would face a maximum prison sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine. Each false statement conviction would carry a maximum eight-year prison sentence.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.
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