Richland, Washington — October 1, 2026
A Department of Energy electrical engineer has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, accused of buying precursor materials for homemade explosives and drones, and offering his technical expertise to help the group improve its communications capabilities.
Who Was Arrested
Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, of Richland, Washington, was arrested Thursday morning and charged with attempting to provide material support or resources to the Houthis, a designated foreign terrorist organization. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance before a federal magistrate judge on Friday.
According to the Justice Department, Ellaboudy worked for the DOE and had previously worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers. The Energy Department confirmed his alleged actions posed no threat to the safety or security of the Hanford nuclear site, where he worked, or its workforce.
How He Allegedly Got Caught
Per court records, the FBI first learned of Ellaboudy after receiving information that he had purchased precursor chemicals, components and other materials commonly used to build homemade explosive devices, along with drone components capable of delivering them.
In September 2025, Ellaboudy allegedly used an official passport previously issued to him during his Army Corps of Engineers work to travel to Yemen. Upon returning to the US, he reportedly told Customs and Border Protection officials that he had traveled overseas on official government business tied to inspecting missile defense systems. Investigators later interviewed his DOE supervisor, who said he had no knowledge of any authorized international travel or any DOE missile inspection program Ellaboudy would have been assigned to.
Communicating With a "Houthi Colonel"
During the course of the investigation, the FBI says Ellaboudy began communicating with an FBI confidential human source who claimed to be working on behalf of a Houthi "Colonel," seeking to acquire communications equipment intended to be sent to Yemen for use in a mobile communications center. Investigators allege he provided advice and technical assistance related to that equipment.
What Officials Are Saying
John Eisenberg, assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department's National Security Division, called the allegations "so deeply disturbing that they almost defy imagination." Officials have emphasized that preventing terrorism remains a top department priority.
What He's Facing
Ellaboudy is charged under a federal law that makes it a crime to provide material support to an organization the US has designated a foreign terrorist organization, which includes the Houthis. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Court records reviewed by reporters did not list an attorney available to speak on his behalf.
This is a developing story involving federal criminal charges. The allegations against Ellaboudy are accusations at this stage, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.