California Man Sentenced for Making Violent Threats Against North Carolinians

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

RALEIGH, N.C. – Kevin Day Dunlow, age 62, of Huntington Beach, California, was sentenced to more than a year in prison, six months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release for two counts of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce.

According to court records and evidence presented in court, between May 1, 2024, and May 16, 2024, Dunlow made numerous threats targeting multiple entities and individuals, including an elected official, members of law enforcement, a church located in northeastern North Carolina, and two synagogues located in Raleigh and Durham.

Specifically, on May 1, 2024, Dunlow called the Wake County Sheriff’s Office dispatch to threaten there was a bomb at the sheriff’s office and told the dispatcher: “were going kill you.” Additionally, on May 10, 2024, Dunlow called a Rabbi just prior to the commencement of evening services and stated: “Jews didn’t deserve to live. Jews didn’t deserve to be on this earth. I’m going to kill the Jews. I’m coming to the Temple to kill all the Jews and the children.”

“Threats of violence against the Jewish community and law enforcement officials are not only despicable, they are also a grave federal crime that we take seriously,” Acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar stated.  “I commend the FBI’s quick and decisive response to these messages, so that Mr. Dunlow can be held responsible and our community can breathe easier.” 

“Kevin Dunlow made violent threats against several groups of people. He targeted law enforcement, elected officials and their families, even local faith leaders, spewing vicious threats over the phone. These people serve our communities in varies ways and should feel safe as they do so,” said James C. Barnacle Jr., the FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge in North Carolina.

Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Terrence W. Boyle. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Raleigh-based Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gabriel J. Diaz and Erin Blondel prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No.5:24-CR-00190.

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