Full Breakdown
DOE Engineer Charged with Supplying Houthis
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Department of Justice announced that Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, a 51-year-old former employee of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in Richland, Washington, has been arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to the Iran-backed Houthi movement, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. Prosecutors allege he used his electrical-engineering expertise to help the group improve mobile communications, secure drone components and acquire chemicals for homemade explosives.
Background & Context
The Houthis, operating from Yemen and backed by Iran, have been targeted by the United States as a terrorist threat. Ellaboudy’s alleged assistance included testing solar generators, modifying power systems, creating circuit schematics and advising on communications equipment for a Houthi-run mobile-communications center. The investigation began after the FBI observed purchases of precursor chemicals and drone parts that are commonly used in improvised explosive devices.
Timeline
- 2024 – Ellaboudy took sick leave from his DOE position, claiming exposure to highly concentrated nitric acid, a chemical used in explosives.
- 2025 – He traveled from Richland to Oman on an official passport from his prior role with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, then crossed into Yemen en route to Sanaa. Upon return, he told border officers the trip was authorized government business, a claim his DOE supervisor disputed.
- 2025 (later) – Federal agents arrested Ellaboudy after a joint FBI-DOE investigation.
- Early October 2026 – He is scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate judge.
Official Statements & Responses
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg described the alleged conduct as “deeply disturbing” and said Ellaboudy attempted to aid the Houthis in building communications infrastructure and drone-delivered explosives. Assistant Director Jarod Brown of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division credited FBI personnel for detecting the scheme and noted that Ellaboudy is now in custody. Ray Geimer, office manager of the DOE Hanford Field Office, emphasized that the alleged activities did not target the Hanford nuclear site or its workforce.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This matter did not involve an attempt to harm the Hanford Site or its workforce, and at no time was there a threat to the safety or security of the site," said Ray Geimer, office manager of the Department of Energy Hanford Field Office.” — Ray Geimer, office manager of the Department of Energy Hanford Field Office