One federal employee tried to help a terror group. That was the plan. The FBI stopped him before he could do more damage. Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, faces serious charges now. He worked for the Department of Energy in Richland, Washington. He was arrested on Thursday, October 1. The Justice Department released the news that day. He is charged with trying to give material support to the Houthis. This group is backed by Iran and is a designated foreign terrorist organization. A court appearance is set for Friday. No attorney has spoken for him yet.
New from DOJ: A Washington state *Department of Energy* employee arrested for helping the Iranian backed Houthis
“Ellaboudy acquired materials for the construction of explosive material and drones capable of delivering these explosives. These allegations are so deeply disturbing… pic.twitter.com/ae6OTk0Ccz
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) October 1, 2026
The FBI says Ellaboudy wanted to help the Houthis improve their communications. He traveled to Yemen last September. The conflict there has killed hundreds and moved tens of thousands from their homes. The rebels took over the capital in 2014. They forced the government to leave for Saudi Arabia. Ellaboudy hoped to reach Sanaa to make government connections. He did not make it to the capital. He used an official passport from his time with the Army Corps of Engineers. He flew from Washington to Oman first.
Things went wrong when he tried to come back to the U.S. He told Customs and Border Protection officials he was on a work trip. He claimed he was part of a U.S. government mission to inspect missile defense systems. His supervisor knew nothing about this. The supervisor said there was no such program for Ellaboudy. The FBI also found out he bought specific chemicals. These included acetone and sodium bisulfate. These are common parts for making homemade explosives. He also bought parts for drones.
He even tried to hide his actions at work. In December 2024, he took sick leave. He said he was exposed to highly concentrated nitric acid. This chemical is used to make explosive materials. During the investigation, he talked with FBI informants. One of them pretended to be a Houthi colonel. He gave them advice on communications equipment. This is where it changes. He thought he was helping a cause. He was actually talking to agents who were watching him.
John Eisenberg leads the National Security Division at the Justice Department. He spoke about the case in a statement. He called the actions a crime against national security. “These allegations are so deeply disturbing that they almost defy imagination,” Eisenberg said. He explained the danger clearly. “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,” he said. The report from the New York Post notes the details of the arrest. RedState also covered the story of the Seattle FBI office’s work.
The materials he bought were for a deadly purpose. “Additionally, Ellaboudy acquired materials for the construction of explosive material and drones capable of delivering these explosives,” Eisenberg said. The law he broke makes it a crime to support foreign terrorist groups. The Houthis are on that list. The FBI task force in the Inland Northwest wrapped up the investigation. They found the link between his job, his travel, and his purchases. The story is now in the hands of the courts. He must deal the charges he faces.
