Justice Department · Friday, October 2, 2026
Energy Department employee arrested on a Houthi support charge
The File desk · Oct 2, 2026, 10:18 AM UTC
Status
Confirmed as an arrest and a complaint (Justice Department, Oct. 1, 2026). A complaint is an allegation. The defendant is presumed innocent.
On Oct. 1, 2026, the Justice Department said agents arrested Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, of Richland, Washington. He is a Department of Energy employee. The charge is attempted material support to the Houthis, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The complaint alleges explosive precursors, drone parts, travel through Oman into Houthi-held Yemen, and advice to an FBI source. He is due for an initial appearance at 11:00 a.m. today in Richland. The maximum if convicted is 20 years. The department said there is no threat to the Hanford site. A complaint is an allegation. He is presumed innocent.
The Justice Department said Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy was arrested on Oct. 1, 2026.
He is 51 and lives in Richland, Washington.
He works for the Department of Energy.
The charge is attempted material support to the Houthis.
The United States has designated the Houthis a foreign terrorist organization.
The complaint alleges explosive precursors and drone parts.
It alleges travel through Oman into Houthi-held Yemen.
It alleges advice given to an FBI source.
An initial appearance is set for 11:00 a.m. on Oct. 2 in Richland.
This edition locks before that hearing. The result is not in this file.
If convicted, the maximum sentence is 20 years.
The department said there is no threat to the Hanford site.
A complaint is an allegation. Ellaboudy is presumed innocent.
What is still unknown or disputed
- The result of the Oct. 2 initial appearance.
- Whether a grand jury later indicts.
Primary sources
Every claim in this story is drawn from the documents below. If a fetch failed, that is recorded on the card.
Source 1
Department of Energy employee arrested in Washington State on charges of attempted material support
U.S. Department of Justice · October 1, 2026
Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, of Richland, Washington, a Department of Energy employee, arrested Oct. 1 on attempted material support to the Houthis, a foreign terrorist organization. Complaint alleges explosive precursors, drone parts, travel via Oman into Houthi-held Yemen, and advice to an FBI source. Initial appearance Oct. 2 at 11:00 a.m. in Richland. Maximum 20 years if convicted. No threat to the Hanford site. A complaint is an allegation.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-energy-employee-arrested-washington-state-charges-attempted-material-support