Upper St. Clair Man Tried To Join Terrorist Organization: FBI

UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA — An Upper St. Clair man is facing federal accusations that he tried to join the terrorist organization Hezbollah and then lied to FBI agents about the attempt.

U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan's office said that Jack Danaher Molloy, 24, a dual citizen of the United States and Ireland, has been charged with making a false statement or representation involving international terrorism to a department or agency.

An FBI affidavit in support of the criminal complaint alleges that Molloy also supported and idolized violence and wanted to kill Jews, as evidenced by multiple images and videos on his electronic devices and the names he chose as handles for social media and email accounts.

Molloy allegedly traveled to Lebanon in August desiring to join Hezbollah but encountered obstacles in doing so. He then traveled from Lebanon to Syria in an attempt to contact the Syrian branch of Hezbollah.

Interviewed by FBI agents at Pittsburgh International Airport, Molloy allegedly lied said he had no current or future plans to become involved with Hezbollah and that he was not meeting with anyone in Syria.

If convicted, Molloy faces up to eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.