Of the billions of dollars in taxes spent by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) being questioned by the Trump administration, millions have funded terrorism.
A multi-year investigation, filed by the Department of Justice and the District of Columbia’s U.S. Lawyers’ Office, reveals the extent to which the funds were used in recent terrorist incidents.
“This incident represents one of the most significant shifts in the USAID-Funded humanitarian assistance investigated by USAID-OIG,” a USAID inspector said.
Syrian citizen Mahmoud al-Hafian was involved. He illegally made its way to a group of armed combatants with more than $9 million in taxpayer money through USAID, including the Al-Nusra Front (ANF), a designated foreign terrorist organisation affiliated with Al-Qaeda. He was accused of repurposing it. In Iraq.
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According to the indictment, Al Hafian leads Syrian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and manages 160 employees.
Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, until 2020, US taxpayers have made more than $12 billion in USAID money to Syria for food and medical supplies that are to be managed by UN agencies and NGOs. Funding was provided.
The NGO led by Al Hafyan has received $122 million over three years, and according to complaints, it has diverted food kits for refugees to ANF commanders. The ANF was fighting to overthrow the Syrian government and was known for committing human rights atrocities such as massive executions of civilians, suicide bombings and tricking them out.
Al Hafyan is said to have sold black market food kits to ANF commanders.
The US Lawyer’s Office for the District of Columbia, USAID OIG, and the FBI’s counterterrorism division were involved in the case.
“The defendant not only fraudulent the US government, but also gave humanitarian assistance that stole foreign terrorist organizations,” said U.S. lawyer Matthew Graves. I said November. “This foreign terrorist organization fought the cruel Al-Assad regime, but those who were supposed to receive aid suffered.”
Several examples of misuse of the USAID funds charged by the US Lawyer’s Office in the District of Columbia are related to various fraud schemes.
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In one case, a former executive at a Delaware digital consulting company has filed a false claim with USAID to receive a government contract with government employees, and willfully do so to never charge the company’s employee. agreed to resolve allegations that he filed a false claim with USAID. According to 2022, it was executed Complaint.
in Another casea San Diego-based global health nonprofit organization to resolve allegations that it intentionally filed a false claim with USAID to receive grants to provide agriculture and other aid to developing countries. , agreed to pay nearly $550,000.
In another case, the International Rescue Committee agreed to pay $6.9 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act relating to programming USAID funds related to the Syrian civil war. The money received by the IRC was intended for humanitarian assistance, but IRC staff instead took part in the kickback scheme using Turkish supply rings, which included contract bidding rigging. Complaint.
In another case, the former NGO official was sentenced to 40 months in prison for paying NGO officers with funding in exchange for sensitive procurement information related to an NGO contract partially funded by USAID. Ta. In this case, for five years, Turkmenistan citizens coordinated the bidding rigging scheme, instructing employees to lie to law enforcement, and destroyed emails related to the investigation. Complaint.
In another case, the former Maryland deputy director and resident of the USAID state pleaded guilty to charges relating to contract steering schemes, conspiracy to fraud the United States and making false statements to law enforcement. . Complaint.
Syndicated with permission From the central square.
