Dearborn Man Gets 63 Months for Lying in Terror Probe

A 24-year-old Dearborn man was hit with a 63-month federal prison sentence after lying to FBI agents about his plans to join Hizballah in Syria’s civil war. Mohammad Hassan Hamdan attempted to flee the U.S. on March 16, 2014, but was intercepted at the airport by federal agents before boarding a flight to Lebanon.

Hamdan admitted during questioning that he knew Hizballah was designated a foreign terrorist organization by the United States. But he denied any intention of joining the group or engaging in combat. Instead, he claimed he was traveling to Lebanon solely for dental work—a story that quickly unraveled under scrutiny.

Court records show Hamdan later pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal agents, admitting he lied to cover his intent to fight alongside Hizballah militants. His deception triggered a federal investigation into potential material support for terrorism, though no direct support charges were filed.

U.S. District Judge Gerald E. Rosen handed down the 63-month sentence and ordered Hamdan deported to Lebanon upon release. The judge emphasized that obstructing a terror probe, even through lies alone, carries serious consequences in the national security era.

“Supporting a terrorist organization anywhere in the world contributes to violent extremism and makes us all less safe,” said U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade, who prosecuted the case alongside Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Waterstreet.

The FBI’s Detroit Division, led by Special Agent in Charge David P. Gelios, investigated the case. Agents flagged Hamdan’s travel patterns and conducted the airport interview that exposed his false narrative. The conviction underscores federal efforts to stop homegrown radicalization before it turns violent.