Ashton Ellaboudy, a Department of Energy employee who has worked at the Hanford Site in Richland, Wash., will appear in federal court Thursday in connection with Justice Department allegations that he aided foreign terrorists, according to an article in the Tri-City Herald.
Ellaboudy is in the Benton County jail after being arrested on Thursday Oct. 1, according to the newspaper article. He was originally scheduled to appear in federal court Tuesday but that was pushed back until Thursday to give time for the defendant to find legal representation.
Ellaboudy has too much income to qualify for a court-appointed attorney, according to the article.
A search in LinkedIn found an Ashton Ellaboudy in the Kennewick, Wash., area, listed as employed by DOE in the nuclear safety division at Hanford since April 2023. A DOE spokesperson at Hanford directed any request for comment on the individual and his employment at the department to DOE headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Ellaboudy, age 51, could face 20 years in prison if convicted of aiding the Houthis, according to an Oct. 1 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Eastern Washington state.
“As alleged, a U.S. government employee traveled overseas and used his specialized expertise in an attempt to aid the Houthis, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization backed by Iran,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Eisenberg, in the press release. “Additionally, Ellaboudy acquired materials for the construction of explosive material and drones capable of delivering these explosives. These allegations are so deeply disturbing that they almost defy imagination.”
Citing Justice Department documents, the newspaper said Ellaboudy is a naturalized U.S. citizen with family ties to Egypt. The newspaper reported Ellaboudy recently traveled to Yeman without authorization. Yeman’s capital is controlled by the Iran-backed Houthis, which the U.S. government has dubbed a terrorist organization.
According to the Herald article, upon returning to the United States, Ellaboudy told officers at Los Angeles International Airport he was traveling for DOE to inspect missile sites. Citing court papers, the newspaper said his DOE boss said his federal job did not involve foreign travel.