A 37-year-old woman from New York has been arrested for allegedly funneling tens of thousands of dollars to a Palestinian terrorist organization. Catherine Beth Washburn, of Irondequoit, a suburb of Rochester, is charged with attempting to provide material support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. Washburn is accused of leading a radical extremist group and posing with hand grenades in front of a Hamas flag.
The radical organization, known as the Direct Action Movement for Palestinian Liberation, was formed in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. The group rejects peaceful protests, instead opting for "direct action," including property destruction and acts of sabotage against entities associated with Israel. Communications recovered by the FBI revealed messages to a person claiming to be an active PIJ fighter in Gaza, where Washburn allegedly expressed her hatred for Jewish people and wished for Israel's demise.
Washburn allegedly sent roughly 80 cryptocurrency transfers totaling more than $30,000 to an account used by the PIJ fighter. In a November 2025 message, she joked about her illicit activities, writing that she would "get put away for a few lifetimes" due to her fundraising and posting. The FBI's investigation revealed that Washburn went to great lengths to finance violence, driven by her self-described hate of Israel and Jewish people.
The FBI and the Justice Department are committed to cutting off funding to terrorist groups and holding individuals accountable for providing assistance to such organizations. Anyone who provides support to violent organizations will be held responsible, according to the FBI Counterterrorism Division. The case against Washburn demonstrates the commitment to ensuring that those who engage in terrorism or provide assistance to terrorist organizations are held fully accountable in the justice system.
