NYC Gazette

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi pleaded guilty to conspiracy to conduct and cause United States persons to conduct unlawful transactions with a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Dora L. Irizarry. Bazzi also agreed to forfeit nearly $830,000 involved in the illegal transaction and will be removed from the United States upon completion of his sentence. When sentenced, Bazzi faces a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Cheryl Ortiz, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New Jersey Field Division announced the charges.

“Today, Specially Designated Global Terrorist Mohammad Bazzi accepted responsibility for his role in conspiring to secretly move hundreds of thousands of dollars from the United States to Lebanon in violation of sanctions placed on him for assisting the terrorist group Hizballah,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “This outcome demonstrates our commitment to enforcing sanctions imposed to starve terrorism financiers of funds and the stark consequences that will be enforced when they are ignored.”

Mr. Peace expressed appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Romanian authorities for their assistance on the case.

“The guilty plea from Mohammed Bazzi is a result of the collaborative effort DEA New Jersey has with our law enforcement partners and foreign counterparts in effectively targeting those individuals and organizations that violate sanctions by providing financial assistance to terrorist organizations like Hizballah,” stated DEA New Jersey Field Division Special Agent in Charge Cheryl Ortiz. “The DEA remains committed to disrupting and dismantling these organizations and those who choose to support them financially.”

In May 2018, the United States Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Bazzi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for assisting in sponsoring, providing financial, material, technological support, and financial services to Hizballah. According to OFAC designation, Bazzi is a key Hizballah financier who has provided millions of dollars over years generated from his business activities in Belgium, Lebanon, Iraq, and throughout West Africa. As a result of this designation, Bazzi’s interest in any property within the United States was blocked, prohibiting all U.S. persons from transacting business with or benefiting Bazzi.

Following this designation, Bazzi and co-defendant Talal Chahine conspired to force or induce an individual located in the United States (U.S. Person) to liquidate their interests in certain real estate assets located in Michigan and covertly transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars out of the country without requisite OFAC licenses.

During recorded communications, Bazzi and Chahine proposed various methods aimed at concealing from OFAC that Bazzi was both source and destination for proceeds from sales by creating false appearances involving third parties.

Bazzi was arrested by Romanian law enforcement authorities in February 2023 before being extradited back.

This effort is part Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation which aims at identifying highest-level criminal threats using multi-agency approach led by prosecutors driven intelligence models information OCDETF Program available online justice.gov/OCDETF

Government case handled International Narcotics Money Laundering Section Assistant US Attorneys Francisco J Navarro Jonathan P Lax Nomi D Berenson Robert M Pollack assisted Trial Attorney Charles Kovats National Security Counterterrorism Scott A Claffee Counterintelligence Export Control Claire Kedeshian Senior Law Clerk Alfred Pelargu Asset Recovery Justice International Affairs aided extradition

Defendant:

MOHAMMAD BAZZI

Age: 60

Lebanon Belgium UK

E.D.N.Y Docket No 23-CR-041(DLI)