DOE employee charged with trying to aid Houthis

Federal authorities arrested Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, a 51-year-old Department of Energy employee from Richland, Washington, and charged him with attempting to provide material support or resources to the Houthis, according to the Justice Department. The allegations center on purchases of materials associated with explosives and drones, travel to Yemen and technical advice that prosecutors say was intended to improve the group’s communications capabilities. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if he is convicted. The criminal complaint alleges that investigators learned Ellaboudy had bought precursor chemicals, components and other items commonly used to make homemade explosives, as well as parts used to construct drones and remotely operated aircraft. Prosecutors also say he used his electrical engineering expertise to help test and modify solar generators and communications equipment, explain how the systems could be integrated, provide schematics and research additional equipment. According to the complaint, Ellaboudy communicated with an FBI confidential source who purported to be connected to a Houthi colonel.