Indictment Unsealed Charging Former San Diego Resident Jehad Serwan Mostafa With Providing Material Support To Militant Islamic Terrorist Organization Al-Shabaab
An indictment was unsealed in federal court today charging Jehad Serwan Mostafa, a 37-old U.S. citizen and former San Diego resident who is on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List, with terrorism violations arising from his critical role in providing support to the militant Islamic terrorist organization, al-Shabaab. The superseding indictment alleges that from no later than March 2008 through in or about February 2017, Mostafa conspired to provide material support, including himself as personnel, to terrorists; conspired to provide material support to al-Shabaab, a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO); and provided material support to al-Shabaab. Mostafa, also known as “Ahmed Gurey,” “Ahmed,” “Anwar,” “Abu Anwar al Muhajir,” and “Abu Abdallah al Muhajir,” was originally charged in a three-count indictment in October 2009 with similar charges. The superseding indictment announced today expands the scope of the indictment alleging that Mostafa’s support of terrorist activities and al-Shabaab continued up to and including February 2017.
On March 20, 2013, the Department of State’s Reward for Justice Program offered a reward of up to $5 million dollars for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mostafa. U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer said the United States unsealed the superseding indictment with hopes that Mostafa will be apprehended and brought to justice. “We believe this defendant is the highest-ranking U.S. citizen fighting overseas with a terrorist organization,” Brewer said. “Al-Shabaab’s reign of terror threatens U.S. national security, our international allies and innocent civilians. Today we seek the public’s assistance in capturing Mostafa and disrupting Al-Shabaab.”
Scott Brunner, the Special-Agent-In-Charge of the San Diego FBI, stated that Mostafa is currently believed to be in Somalia, and the FBI is seeking the assistance of the public, both in the United States and East Africa, in locating and apprehending Mostafa. SAC Brunner stated that the apprehension and prosecution of Mostafa will aid in disrupting Al-Shabaab’s terrorist activities, which continue to threaten U.S. national security, our international allies, and innocent civilians, both U.S. and foreign citizens alike. SAC Brunner stated that Mostafa was raised in the Serra Mesa area of San Diego and attended high school and college in San Diego. After graduating from college, in late 2005 at the age of 23, Mostafa departed San Diego, travelling first to Sana’a, Yemen, and then on to Somalia where he engaged in fighting against internationally supported Ethiopian forces. Mostafa eventually joined al-Shabaab, a terrorist group that the U.S. Department of State designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2008……
