ATLANTA - A US citizen has pleaded guilty in a federal court to providing material support to the militant Palestinian group Hamas, the US Justice Department said on Friday. Mohamed “Shorbagi provided the support through donations to the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development knowing that some or all of the money was in fact destined for Hamas,” a Justice Department statement said. “This case illustrates that people who illegally support foreign terrorist organizations may be found anywhere in the United States, even in quiet and pleasant places like Rome, Georgia,” said US Attorney David E. Nahmias in a statement.
Shorbagi entered the plea under an agreement on Aug. 26, which was sealed until Friday, the Justice Department said. Under the deal he agreed to the maximum sentence but the government could request it be reduced if it determines that his cooperation “substantially assists” in further investigations or prosecutions, it said.