Jonathan Xie, a 25-year-old resident of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, was sentenced on September 30, 2024, to time served—64 months—for concealing his attempts to provide material support to the designated foreign terrorist organization Hamas.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen of the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division, and officials from the FBI.
Xie had previously pleaded guilty via videoconference before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp to one count of concealing attempts to provide support to Hamas.
During the sentencing at the Trenton federal court, Judge Shipp imposed a total of 20 years of supervised release, which included six months of home detention.
Prosecutors highlighted the severity of Xie’s actions, noting that he not only sent money intended to support Hamas but also expressed a desire to travel to Gaza to join the group. Xie had made threatening statements on social media, including intentions to harm individuals at a pro-Israel march.
Federal investigators described Xie as having been radicalized online since graduating high school in 2018. His social media profile depicted a teenager involved in his high school’s marching band and employed at a retail store, who was also obsessed with joining Hamas despite lacking any cultural or religious connections to the Middle East.
In December 2018, Xie sent $100 to an individual in Gaza who he believed to be a member of the Al-Qassam Brigades, a faction of Hama, and posted on Instagram: “Just donated $100 to Hamas. Pretty sure it was illegal but I don’t give a damn.”
FBI surveillance outside of Trump Tower in April 2019 observed Xie, who later posted on Instagram, “I want to bomb Trump Tower.” He also expressed a desire to bomb the Israeli embassy in New York City, federal authorities say.
In an April 2019 online post, Xie appeared in a live video and displayed a Hamas flag and a handgun. He told the viewers, “I’m gonna go to the [expletive] pro-Israel march and I’m going to shoot everybody,” authorities say.
FBI officials underscored that Xie’s case exemplifies a concerning trend of young individuals being radicalized rapidly. Newark FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson I. Delgado emphasized the importance of parental awareness regarding their children’s online activities.
Court documents revealed that in December 2018, Xie transferred $100 via Moneygram to an individual in Gaza, whom he believed to be associated with Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades. He acknowledged this act in an Instagram post, stating he was aware it was illegal.
In subsequent social media activity, Xie made inflammatory statements while displaying a Hamas flag and a firearm, threatening violence against pro-Israel demonstrators. His actions included sharing a link to a Hamas-related website and discussing methods of anonymously donating to the group via Bitcoin.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, with assistance from various federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Secret Service.