2023 · Eastern District of New York · 23-CR-139 (DG)

Nazem Ahmad and 8 Co-defendants

Latest release: OFAC-Designated Hizballah Financier and Eight Associates Charged with Multiple Crimes Arising Out of Scheme to Evade Terrorism-Related Sanctions

The Case's Tie to Hezbollah, in the Government's Words

“Ahmad was also an associate of high-level members of Hezbollah, a Lebanon-based terrorist group that was designated by the United States as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist.”

Defendants and Outcomes

• Nazem Ahmad At large as of Apr. 18, 2023

  “A nine-count indictment was unsealed today in the Eastern District of New York charging Nazem Ahmad and eight co-defendants with conspiring to defraud the United States and foreign governments, evade U.S. sanctions and customs laws and conduct money laundering transactions by securing goods and services for the benefit of Ahmad, a Lebanese resident and dual Belgian-Lebanese citizen who was sanctioned by the United States for being a financier for Hezbollah, a foreign terrorist organization.”

  U.S. Department of Justice, OFAC-Designated Hezbollah Financier and Eight Associates Charged with Multiple Crimes Arising Out of Scheme to Evade Terrorism-Related Sanctions, press release, Apr. 18, 2023, para. 2, justice.gov.

• 8 co-defendants are charged in the same case. The release does not tie them to Hezbollah by name, so their names are not shown here.

Exhibits

1. Exhibit 1

   U.S. Department of Justice, OFAC-Designated Hezbollah Financier and Eight Associates Charged with Multiple Crimes Arising Out of Scheme to Evade Terrorism-Related Sanctions, press release, Apr. 18, 2023, justice.gov.

   Fetched Oct. 20, 2026.

   Summary The U.S. Department of Justice announced that a nine count indictment was unsealed in the Eastern District of New York charging Nazem Ahmad and eight co defendants with crimes involving alleged evasion of U.S. terrorism related sanctions, customs laws, and money laundering restrictions. The indictment was unsealed on the date of the announcement, and one defendant was arrested in the United Kingdom at the request of the United States while the other defendants, including Ahmad, remained at large.

2. Exhibit 2

   U.S. Department of Justice, OFAC-Designated Hizballah Financier and Eight Associates Charged with Multiple Crimes Arising Out of Scheme to Evade Terrorism-Related Sanctions, press release, Apr. 18, 2023, justice.gov.

   Fetched Oct. 20, 2026.

   Summary The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, together with the Justice Department’s National Security Division, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Commerce, announced a nine count indictment charging Nazem Ahmad and eight co defendants with conspiracy, sanctions evasion, customs violations, and money laundering related to transactions involving diamonds and artwork. The indictment was unsealed in the Eastern District of New York, one defendant was arrested in the United Kingdom, and seizure warrants were obtained for specified assets.

3. Exhibit 3

   U.S. Department of Justice, Charging document attached to the release, charging document (PDF), Apr. 18, 2023, justice.gov.

   Fetched Oct. 20, 2026.