Federal authorities on Tuesday arrested 37-year-old Catherine Beth Washburn of Irondequoit, alleging she led a radical activist group and funneled cryptocurrency to a person who identified themselves as a fighter for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), the Justice Department said. The criminal complaint, made public by prosecutors and cited in reporting by Fox News, accuses Washburn of attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Arrest and charges: Catherine Beth Washburn in Irondequoit
According to the criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors, Washburn was arrested after an investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. The complaint alleges she coordinated fundraising and transfers to benefit PIJ and attempted to provide material support, a federal offense. The Justice Department and U.S. Attorney statements quoted in the filings describe the conduct as an effort to finance violence; those characterizations reflect allegations in the complaint and have not been proven in court.
What the complaint alleges about DAMPL
The complaint names Washburn as the leader of the Direct Action Movement for Palestinian Liberation (DAMPL). Prosecutors allege DAMPL formed after the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and, according to the filing, “rejected peaceful protest” in favor of “direct action,” which the complaint says included rhetoric and posts promoting sabotage and targeting of entities associated with Israel. These points are drawn from the DOJ complaint and related agency statements and remain allegations at this stage of the case.
Evidence cited: messages and cryptocurrency transfers
Prosecutors say investigators recovered communications that include messages attributed to Washburn and exchanges with a person claiming to be an active PIJ fighter in Gaza. The complaint quotes messages it attributes to Washburn expressing hostility toward Israel and Jewish people; the filing treats these as evidence supporting the charge but they are alleged statements contained in the complaint.
The filing also cites roughly 80 cryptocurrency transfers totaling more than $30,000, which prosecutors allege were sent to an account used by the individual who identified themselves as a PIJ fighter. The complaint and DOJ statements identify these transfers as central evidence that the transfers were intended to support a designated terrorist organization.
Legal context and possible penalties
Attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization is charged under federal law and can carry significant prison terms and fines if a conviction follows. The complaint is an initial charging document that lays out the government’s theory and evidence; next steps commonly include an initial court appearance, potential grand jury indictment, and pretrial proceedings. All allegations in the complaint must be proven in court for a conviction.
Local impact and background in Irondequoit and Rochester
The allegations tie activity to Irondequoit, a suburb of Rochester. Local residents and officials in the Rochester area have previously expressed concern in other cases where alleged extremist or violent activity intersected with community safety. Prosecutors and law enforcement emphasize that investigations now routinely trace online fundraising and cryptocurrency flows back to individuals in U.S. communities, generating local public-safety questions when charges follow.
Authorities say the investigation involved cooperation between local and federal agents; the criminal complaint and DOJ statements cited by reporting outline that coordination. Neighbors and community leaders in Irondequoit may now look to local authorities and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for updates as the case proceeds.
Expert reaction
Counterterrorism experts note that while cryptocurrency and encrypted messaging complicate tracing funds, law enforcement has developed tools and task forces—such as FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces—to follow digital financial flows. Legal analysts caution that an arrest and a complaint start a process in which prosecutors must prove intent and the knowing provision of support to a designated organization; defenses often focus on intent and the accuracy of attribution for online statements and transfers.
FAQ
What happened with Catherine Beth Washburn?
Federal prosecutors allege Washburn, 37, of Irondequoit, led DAMPL and sent roughly 80 cryptocurrency transfers totaling more than $30,000 to an account used by a person who claimed to be a PIJ fighter. She was arrested on a complaint charging attempted material support to a designated terrorist organization; those are allegations contained in the DOJ filing.
Why does Catherine Beth Washburn matter?
Prosecutors say the case is an example of alleged domestic fundraising and online support for a foreign terrorist organization and of how local activists can be implicated in international conflict through digital means. The government frames the matter as part of efforts to disrupt funding channels to terrorist groups.
What happens next?
The justice process typically includes an initial court appearance, possible indictment by a grand jury, and pretrial motions. If charged by indictment, the case could proceed to trial where the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. All claims in the complaint remain allegations until proven in court.
Source attribution
This article is based on the criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors and statements from the U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI, as well as reporting by Fox News. For primary source material, see the Justice Department press archive: justice.gov/opa/pr, which links to DOJ press materials and related filings. Fox News reporting is available here: Fox News – Exclusive. The statements and evidence described above are drawn from the DOJ complaint and agency press statements; the complaint’s allegations have not been proven in court.
