Louisiana Man Charged in Oct. 7, Visa Fraud

Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al‑Muhtadi, 33, a Gaza native living in Lafayette, Louisiana, was arrested and charged with visa fraud and conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization for allegedly participating in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas‑led attacks that killed more than 1,200 people. An unsealed FBI complaint alleges he armed himself, organized a group of fighters and crossed from Gaza into southern Israel near Kibbutz Kfar Aza during the assault, and acted as an operative in the National Resistance Brigades, the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Prosecutors cite social‑media photos and messages, intercepted communications and cellphone location data as evidence and allege he lied about paramilitary involvement on his U.S. visa application before entering the United States in September 2024 and obtaining permanent residency later that year. In his first federal court appearance, Al‑Muhtadi, through an interpreter, denied the allegations and was ordered held pending a further detention hearing, and prosecutors say additional charges may be forthcoming. The case is being pursued by the Justice Department’s Joint Task Force October 7 with assistance from the FBI; Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the alleged conduct, and if convicted he faces severe penalties, including the possibility of life imprisonment.