Upper St. Clair Man Who Wanted To Join Hizballah Indicted For Terrorism

Sunday, January 5, 2025, 5:30 P.M. ET. 4 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,

PITTSBURGH, PA. On Thursday, January 2, 2025, U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan reported a Federal Grand Jury for the Western District of Pennsylvania against a former Upper St Clair, Pennsylvania, man and former member of the U.S. Army on charges of attempting to support the foreign terrorist organization Hizballah and making false statements involving international terrorism to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

     The three-count indictment charges Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, formerly of Upper St. Clair, as the sole defendant. Molloy, and who was previously charged on December 6, 2024, in a federal criminal complaint with making false statement charges, and with the terrorism offense being unsealed in the indictment. 

Molloy Arrested In Chicago

     Molloy was taken into custody on December 6, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois, and transported by the United States Marshals Service to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on December 30, 2024.

     As alleged in the indictment, from around August 2024 through early December 2024, in Lebanon, Syria, and the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, Molloy attempted to provide material support and resources, namely personnel, including himself and other services, to Hizballah, designated foreign terrorist organization knowing that organization had engaged and was engaging in terrorist activity and terrorism. 

     As outlined in the charging documents, Hizballah, also commonly spelled as Hezbollah, was formed in the wake of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon by the Israeli military. Since its formation, Hizballah has carried out numerous terroristic attacks against Israel and Western targets, including American military and diplomatic personnel.

Molloy Is A Dual U.S-Ireland Citizen

     The indictment further alleges Molloy, a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland who previously served on active-duty status in the U.S. Army, traveled to Lebanon in August 2024 and attempted to join Hizballah. While in Lebanon, Molloy was told by several individuals that the time was not right and that he needed to take other steps before he could join the terrorist organization.

     Molloy then traveled from Lebanon to Syria in October 2024 in an effort to fight for Hizballah. After returning to the U.S., Molloy resided in Upper St. Clair, where he continued his attempts to join Hizballah, including through communications with individuals online and in Lebanon. During his time in the United States and abroad, Molloy also expressed his hatred toward and promoted violence against Jews. Molloy’s alleged animus toward Jews was also evidenced by multiple images and videos on his computer and cellular phone and the usernames he chose for his social media and email accounts, including the username “KIKEKILLER” on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Molloy Told Family His Master Plan Was To Join Hizballah

     In one alleged WhatsApp exchange with a family member, Molloy agreed that his “Master plan was to join Hizballah and kill Jews.” While residing in Upper St. Clair, Molloy also allegedly visited a website detailing the possible prison location of Robert Bowers, who carried out the Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooting that claimed the lives of 11 Jewish worshippers.

     Finally, the indictment also alleges that, upon arriving at the Pittsburgh International Airport on October 20, 2024, Molloy lied to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation when he told them that he had no current or future plans to become involved with Hizballah and that he had no business in, nor was he meeting anyone in Syria.

     These statements and representations were false because Molloy knew at the time that he did have current and future plans to become involved with Hizballah and that Molloy traveled to Syria to furtherance of his attempts to join Hizballah and, while in Syria, set up a meeting with an individual there.

     “As alleged, Jack Molloy, an avowed adherent of Hizballah harboring deep-seated animus against Jews, took many steps over a period of months at home and abroad in his effort to join and fight for this deadly terrorist organization,” said U.S. Attorney Olshan. “This case is yet another sobering reminder of the threat of radicalized violence against Americans. And while the defendant appears to have worked hard to achieve his terrorist goals, today’s charges demonstrate that the resolve of our office and our partners in law enforcement is stronger. We will continue working every day to ensure members of the Jewish community and every other community in this country can live their lives without fear that they will be targeted by a hate-fueled terrorist attack.”