A middle-class mother of two from upstate New York has been accused of funding a designated terrorist organization and leading a local anti-Israel extremist group that formed after the Oct. 7 attacks.
Catherine Beth Washburn, 37, of Irondequoit, allegedly funneled approximately $30,000 in cryptocurrency through 80 separate transfers to an individual within the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group in Gaza. Prosecutors allege that Washburn told the PIJ fighter, "I wish every day were October 7."
Neighbors told The Post that Washburn began wearing Muslim attire, including a hijab, shortly after the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel. One neighbor, Donna Glover, recalled Washburn yelling at her then 6-year-old daughter to "come inside and get dressed up" in a hijab. Glover also stated that Washburn was not wearing such garments when she moved into the neighborhood about five years prior but became "more Muslim" after the start of the Gaza conflict.
Washburn is believed to have spearheaded the Direct Action Movement for Palestinian Liberation, an anti-Israel group that prosecutors say encouraged sabotage and property destruction. A Palestinian flag was reportedly seen on Washburn's home as of Thursday, three months after a SWAT team raided the residence.
According to federal charges, Washburn also expressed hate for Jewish people, stating she "hated Jews very much" and wished Israel "would disappear." Prosecutors claim Washburn took a selfie with a Hamas flag and two hand grenades. Her social media accounts reportedly contain anti-Israel messages, including posts that allegedly shared the home addresses of individuals identified as "Zionists."
Washburn, who faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, appeared in federal court in Buffalo on Wednesday and was held without bail. Her attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
Neighbors described Washburn as "standoffish" and "very, very f—ing weird." One neighbor, who spoke anonymously, said they believed Washburn attempted to impose her religious views on her children. This neighbor also reported a brief conversation with Washburn's husband, Adam, who was reportedly estranged from his wife and stated he would not assist with her bail.
Prosecutors noted that Washburn allegedly predicted her legal troubles in a November 2025 message, writing, "Based on my passed [sic] fundraising and posting Im [sic] gonna get put away for a few life times," according to court documents. Previous media images depict Washburn as a modest mother of two with her husband, a contrast to her current social media presence, which reportedly features her wearing a hijab and posting anti-Israel content.