American on FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List faces new charges; $5M reward offered

Federal authorities are again publicizing a $5 million reward as they search for a former San Diego man who appears on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List.

In a Monday news release, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Southern California described Jehad Serwan Mostafa, 37, as "the highest-ranking U.S. citizen fighting overseas with a terrorist organization" for his support of East Africa-based militant group al-Shabab. Officials believe he is now in Somalia.

Today, the FBI joins the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California in announcing a superseding...

Posted by FBI – Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday, December 2, 2019

"Al-Shabab's reign of terror threatens U.S. national security, our international allies and innocent civilians," U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer said in a statement. "Today, we seek the public's assistance in capturing Mostafa and disrupting al-Shabab."

The announcement came as authorities unsealed a "superseding indictment" expanding charges against Mostafa, who was initially indicted 10 years ago, to include terrorism-related offenses that occurred from March 2008 to February 2017, the news release said. Prosecutors believe Mostafa "conspired to provide material support, including himself as personnel, to terrorists; conspired to provide material support to al-Shabab, a designated foreign terrorist organization (FTO); and provided material support to al-Shabab," according to the release.

The U.S. State Department first offered a $5 million reward for "information leading to the arrest and conviction of Mostafa" in 2013, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. That reward is still available, the news release said.

If you have information about Mostafa's whereabouts, call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.

Read more here.

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