A Department of Energy employee in Washington state has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Houthis, a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Justice Department announced Thursday.
Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, of Richland, was taken into custody and is scheduled to appear in federal court in Richland on Friday. According to the criminal complaint, Ellaboudy allegedly used his specialized expertise to try to help the Iran-backed group improve its communications capabilities.
Investigators say Ellaboudy purchased precursor chemicals and components commonly used to make homemade explosives, as well as parts for drones capable of delivering explosives. In September 2025, he traveled to Oman using an official passport previously issued when he worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, then crossed into Yemen with the intent of reaching the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa. Upon returning to the United States, he told border officers the trip was official government business, though his DOE supervisor later confirmed he had no authorized travel to the region.
During the investigation, Ellaboudy allegedly communicated with an FBI confidential source posing as a Houthi intermediary. He provided technical advice on solar power generators and communication equipment, including schematics and guidance on how to integrate the systems for use in a mobile communications center.
If convicted, Ellaboudy faces up to 20 years in prison. The FBI’s Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force investigated the case.
