A Florida businessman who owns six beauty-supply stores has been indicted in an alleged Hamas financing scheme, with prosecutors citing messages in which he called for Jews to be beheaded and the killings publicized to frighten Israelis.

Raed Yousef, 56, of Lutz, faces 19 federal felony counts involving alleged terrorism financing, money laundering and passport fraud. His attorney entered not-guilty pleas at his September 18 arraignment in Tampa.

Investigators allege Yousef sent more than $45,000 to a French organization while knowing the money was intended for Hamas. The organization allegedly transferred more than $330,000 overall to cryptocurrency accounts controlled by the terrorist group. Prosecutors say the network also involved a Hamas member in Gaza and an associate in Louisiana.

The alleged operation began shortly after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, with the French organization presenting itself as a humanitarian initiative. Participants allegedly used “green” and “bread” as code words for Hamas and instructed one another to delete communications. In a January 2024 exchange about approaching donors, Yousef allegedly said: “Just tell them these are needy people in Gaza.”

Prosecutors also cited messages advocating violence against Jews. In one exchange, Yousef allegedly called for people “to behead them and display their heads.” Other messages urged posting beheadings on social media to terrorize Israelis into leaving, according to the government’s detention filing.

Authorities said a search of his home uncovered $75,000 in cash, six firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Investigators also alleged that he maintained a separate identity in Jordan, possessing a passport under another name.

His defense disputes that he knowingly financed Hamas. In a motion seeking his release, his lawyer argued that Yousef believed his donations supported humanitarian relief for civilians in Gaza and did not know money was being diverted. The defense characterized his inflammatory statements as protected political speech rather than evidence that he knowingly funded terrorism.

The defense also emphasized his longstanding community ties, noting that he became a naturalized American citizen in 1991 and operates six family-run beauty-supply stores in the Tampa Bay area.

A federal judge ordered Yousef detained pending trial on September 23, according to Court Watch.