U.S. Department of Energy employee charged with trying to aid Yemen’s Houthis
A Washington state man who worked for the U.S. Department of Energy has been arrested and charged with trying to support the Houthis, the Iran-backed group in Yemen, according to federal prosecutors. He is accused of using his electrical engineering expertise to help prepare equipment intended for the group.
Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, of Richland, was arrested Thursday morning, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington. He is charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to the Houthis, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
The FBI began investigating after receiving information that the suspect had purchased chemicals, components and other materials commonly used to make homemade explosives. Authorities also found that he bought parts used to construct drones and remotely operated aircraft.
In December 2024, the FBI learned that he had taken sick leave after reporting exposure to highly concentrated nitric acid, a chemical commonly used in producing explosive materials, according to the complaint.
The following September, the suspect traveled from Richland to Oman using an official passport issued during his previous employment with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He then used the same passport to cross into Yemen, intending to travel to Sanaa, the Houthi-controlled capital.
When he returned to the United States, he told Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers that the trip had been official government business. His Energy Department supervisor later told authortiies that he had no authorized government travel to that region.
During the investigation, the suspect began communicating with an FBI informant who claimed to be working for a Houthi “colonel.” The informant said communications equipment was being acquired for shipment to Yemen for use in a mobile communications center.
Prosecutors said the suspect helped test and modify solar power generators and communications equipment. He also explained how the systems would work together, supplied schematics and diagrams for their setup, and researched additional equipment to enhance the Houthis’ communications capabilities.
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg said the allegations involved a government employee who traveled overseas and attempted to use specialized expertise to assist the group. He also alleged that the suspect acquired materials for explosives and drones capable of delivering them.
Ray Geimer, manager of the Energy Department’s Hanford Field Office, said the case did not involve an attempt to harm the Hanford Site or its workforce.
“At no time was there a threat to the safety or security of the site,” Geimer said.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force. The suspect is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate judge in Richland at 11 a.m. Friday. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
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