Hezbollah Financier Pleads Guilty in U.S. Court

Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi, a dual Lebanese-Belgian citizen and designated 'global terrorist' by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2018, pleaded guilty in a New York federal court to conspiracy to conduct unlawful transactions involving Hezbollah. Bazzi, accused of funneling millions of dollars to the Iranian-backed group, faces up to 20 years in prison and has agreed to forfeit nearly $830,000. Co-defendant Talal Khalil Chahine remains at large in Lebanon. The charges stem from a scheme to liquidate Michigan real estate assets to fund Hezbollah, violating U.S. sanctions. Bazzi was arrested in Romania and extradited to the U.S., where he admitted to using fake business transactions to evade sanctions.