COVINGTON — Two Covington brothers are among several people charged in connection with funneling money to Hamas, according to the Justice Department.

The Justice Department announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Saleem Alzaq, along with the arrests of Omar Adhami, Abdel Adhami and Raed Yousef for their involvement in paying, soliciting and collecting funds for Hamas. In a coordinated operation in France, three of Alzaq's associates were also arrested by French authorities.

Abdel Adhami, 35 and Omar Adhami, 33, both of Covington, allegedly donated funds to Alzaq's Hamas financing network. According to the Justice Department, starting in approximately February 2021 and continuing through approximately September, Abdel Adhami allegedly contributed approximately $94,000 and Omar Adhami allegedly contributed approximately $11,000 to Hamas.

Both brothers allegedly knew Hamas was a designated terrorist organization that engaged in terrorist activities. Prosecutors say they attempted to hide their contributions through wire transfers and the use of intermediaries.

According to the Louisiana Secretary of State records, the brothers own 4 Her Beauty Supply in Hammond. The FBI, alongside Hammond Police and other agencies, executed a search warrant on the store in September.

Yousef, a resident of Lutz, Florida, allegedly provided almost $50,000 to Alzaq's Hamas financing network.

Alzaq faces charges including conspiring to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, conspiring to commit money laundering and conspiring to defraud the United States. Each of the first three charges carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, while the last carries a maximum of five years.

Both Omar Adhami and Abdel Adhami each face charges of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiring to commit money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.