SAN DIEGO — 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.
[ >> Read more trending news ]
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.
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.
"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.
If you have information about Mostafa's whereabouts, call 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.