News Release

Hor I. Akl and Amera A. Akl, a married couple from Toledo, Ohio, pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to a scheme to send hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hizballah, a designated foreign terrorist organization, Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, and Stephen D. Anthony, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Cleveland Division, announced today.

Hor Akl, age 38, pleaded guilty to a total of five counts: conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization; conspiracy to violate money laundering statutes; perjury and two counts of bankruptcy fraud.

Amera Akl, age 38, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

“Money is the lifeblood of terrorist organizations, and stopping the flow is a key component to choking off these organizations,â€