Category: USDJ Hate Crimes

Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

Nikolay Levinson Mailed at Least 41 Anonymous, Threatening, Racist, Anti-Semitic, and Anti-Muslim Letters to Businesses, Schools, Synagogues, and Individuals

Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

Defendant’s frustration at Social Security office turned into threats and racial slurs targeting a Black federal employee

Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero announced that Donavon Parish, 29, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, entered a plea of guilty today before United States District Court Judge Cynthia M. Rufe to one count of cyberstalking and five counts of abuse and harassment using a telecommunications device. Parish also admitted to a special finding that he targeted his victims based on their actual and perceived religion.

According to a June 2023 indictment and superseding information filed last month, during April and May 2022, the defendant used a Voice over Internet Protocol service to make a series of phone calls to synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

In these calls, the defendant spoke to individuals answering the telephone calls on behalf of their respective institutions, at which time he repeatedly referenced the genocide of approximately six million Jewish people during the Holocaust, stating, among other things, “Heil Hitler,” “all Jews must die,” “we will put you in work camps,” “gas the Jews,” and “Hitler should have finished the job.”

In total, the defendant faces a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $1,500,000 fine and a $600 special assessment.

“Cyberstalking is already a serious violation and targeting victims based on their religion is a hate crime, which makes it that much more abhorrent,” said U.S. Attorney Romero. “We and our partners will continue to work to hold accountable anyone who criminally misuses today’s technology to spread hate and fear.”

“Antisemitism has no place in our society,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia. “Today’s guilty plea reinforces that we will pursue justice against those who threaten members of our communities with such vile threats. The FBI will continue to work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure our citizens feel safe in the environments they live, work and play in.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Jeanette Kang of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Justin Sher with the Department of Justice’s National Security Division (Counterterrorism Section), with assistance from DOJ’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

BOISE – U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit along with The College of Idaho, and the Community Center, are convening a United Against Hate summit on May 13 at The College of Idaho in Caldwell.  The event is free and is open to the public.  The registration link can be found here: www.eventbrite.com/UAH-Caldwell.

United Against Hate is an initiative launched by the Department of Justice focused on improving efforts to combat hate crimes and hate incidents through relationship building at the local level.  Through this endeavor, the U.S. Attorney’s Office seeks to create and strengthen trust and partnerships among law enforcement, community leaders, and residents.  Well‑attended summits have already been held in Coeur d’Alene, Caldwell, Boise, Ketchum, Pocatello, and Sandpoint.  This is the second United Against Hate summit hosted at The College of Idaho.

“The United Against Hate initiative continues to resonate and be a priority for our office because Idaho has continued to experience troubling hate incidents,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit.  “We are committed to empowering Idahoans to recognize and report hate crimes so that we can enforce the law and work toward communities where everyone can enjoy the protections of our Constitution without fear of being targeted by bigotry and hate.”

The May 13 event will include remarks from local leaders, presentations from prosecutors about hate crimes laws and reporting mechanisms, and speakers who will share their courageous experiences responding to hate, including the response to a recently-prosecuted hate crime targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

“We are thrilled once again to partner with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our community to host the United Against Hate summit,” said Latonia Haney Keith, Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice President of High Impact Practices at The College of Idaho.  “Last year’s event was an outstanding success, drawing an engaged audience willing to combat hate and encourage understanding.  Events like this provide a critical educational platform to empower our community to take action against bigotry and intolerance, ultimately fostering a safer and more inclusive environment for everyone.”

“I look forward to meeting community members and hearing different perspectives on how we can work together to unite our community in standing up to unlawful hate,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit.  “And I am deeply honored to join with The College of Idaho and our other partners to prioritize this critical mission.”

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Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

LOS ANGELES – A Diamond Bar man was sentenced today to 12 months in federal prison for disrupting a “Stop Asian Hate” rally in March 2021 by running a red light and driving through a crowded crosswalk of peaceful demonstrators while shouting racial slurs and epithets.

Steve Lee Dominguez, 58, was sentenced by United States District Judge Otis D. Wright II.

Dominguez pleaded guilty in October 2023 to one count of bias-motivated interference with federally protected activities.

“This defendant’s hateful attack was designed to curtail the rights of peaceful demonstrators,” said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. “While differences of opinion are part of a healthy democracy, we cannot allow people to commit acts of violence against those with whom they disagree. My office will continue to safeguard civil rights for all members of our community.”

“Mr. Dominguez attacked innocent civilians who were simply standing up for a righteous cause – to protect Asian members of our society from hateful attacks,” said Mehtab Syed, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Today’s sentence represents the FBI’s commitment to ensuring that Constitutionally-protected rights are not violated and those who deny them will be held accountable.” 

“We are deeply committed to protecting everyone’s constitutional rights including freedom of speech, and when actions turn violent and cross the line into criminal misconduct they will not be tolerated,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. “The Sheriff’s Department will continue to work with our justice partners to ensure our diverse communities within Los Angeles County are protected for exercising their civil rights without fear of being attacked or harassed.”

A “Stop Asian Hate” rally occurred on March 21, 2021, in Diamond Bar. The rally was to raise awareness about the increase in hate crimes and hate incidents against members of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community both locally and nationally – including the murders of six Asian American women five days earlier in Atlanta.

A group of rally participants assembled at the intersection of Diamond Bar Boulevard and Grand Avenue, carrying American flags and large signs in support of their cause. The demonstrators peacefully gathered and lawfully crossed the streets using the marked pedestrian crosswalk when they had the right of way.

During the rally, Dominguez was driving a black Honda Civic sedan and was stopped at a red light at the intersection. Dominguez yelled, “Go back to China!” and other racial slurs and profanities at the demonstrators. He then deliberately drove his car through the intersection’s crosswalk at the red light, made an illegal U-turn into oncoming traffic, and cut off the route of several rally participants lawfully crossing the street, primarily women and a young child.

One of the victims was an Asian woman carrying a sign that read, “Stop Asian Hate.” Another victim was a minor Black female rally participant who carried a sign that read, “End the Violence Against Asians.” Another person who was cut off in the crosswalk was a 9-year-old child, and Dominguez’s car narrowly missed her and other victims. No injuries were reported.

Dominguez then pulled his car over, got out of the car and continued to yell racial epithets – including the n-word – and threats at the demonstrators. He then called the police, identified himself as “John Doe” and falsely reported to police that the rally participants were blocking the street and he had to run a red light “because they were about to trample my car,” according to evidence presented at trial. He also requested that police “get some control out” at the intersection.

The FBI investigated this matter. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department initially responded to the scene and assisted in this matter.

Assistant United States Attorneys Frances S. Lewis of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section and Suria M. Bahadue of the Criminal Appeals Section prosecuted this case.

Any member of the public who has information related to hate crimes is encouraged to call the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310) 477-6565 or report tips online at https://tips.fbi.gov.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

GREENSBORO – A North Carolina man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison, after pleading guilty to one count of communicating threats in interstate commerce, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.  

JEFFREY SCOTT HOBGOOD, age 64, of Troy, North Carolina, was sentenced to an 18-month term of imprisonment by the Honorable William L. Osteen, Jr., United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC, to be followed by a 3-year term of supervised release and 20 hours of community service weekly for twelve weeks. He pleaded guilty on January 3, 2024, to communicating threats in interstate commerce, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c).

According to court records, on October 11, 2023, HOBGOOD sent a threatening email to a Jewish organization located in Charlotte, North Carolina, addressing the recipients as “Israeli jews of David star,” and threatening to “take every one of you out,” writing that “you semite [sic] pieces of s- will be annihilated.” Two days later, HOBGOOD sent a second threatening email to the same organization, again making a reference to the religion of the recipients. In his plea agreement, HOBGOOD admitted that he selected the targets of his offense of conviction because of the actual and perceived religion of the victims.

“It is abhorrent to threaten someone with violence because of who they are or how they worship. The FBI worked tirelessly with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District Of North Carolina to ensure Jeffrey Hobgood could not offer excuses for his hate-filled messages and would instead, serve time in federal prison,” said Robert M. DeWitt, the FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s civil rights and public corruption squad, the Troy Police Department, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys JoAnna G. McFadden and Ashley R. Waid.  

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Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JEREMY JOSEPH was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for sending interstate threats to injure or kill two former co-workers.  JOSEPH previously pled guilty, two days after his trial on these charges had begun, before U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken, who imposed today’s sentence. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Jeremy Joseph sent hateful, violent, and antisemitic death threats over email to two former co-workers.  Joseph made these threats as part of a broader scheme in which Joseph threatened dozens of victims, many of whom were Jewish or were perceived to be Jewish.  This prosecution and today’s sentence make clear that this Office will not tolerate crimes of hate and will continue to seek justice for the victims of these offensive and harmful acts.”

According to Indictment, other public filings, and statements made in court:

From in or about December 2022 through at least in or about January 2023, JOSEPH sent terrifying death threats over email to two former colleagues (the “Victims”) that he worked with over 10 years prior.  The emails detailed how JOSEPH planned to murder his Victims and included photographs of pipe bombs, ammunition, and a firearm.  The emails also included personal information about the Victims and their families. 

JOSEPH’s threats towards the Victims were part of a larger pattern of death threats sent to various other individuals from JOSEPH’s life, as well as politicians, judges, and prosecutors.  The targets of his threats spanned multiples countries and U.S. states.  In these communications, JOSEPH consistently used violent, threatening language that targeted Jewish people. 

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In addition to the prison term, JOSEPH, 41, of Houston, Texas, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. 

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Unit in the Criminal Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie Bagliebter and Diarra M. Guthrie are in charge of the prosecution.

Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

This webinar will provide details for potential applicants to the FY24 Office of Justice Programs Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Site-Based solicitation. The presenters will discuss the purpose and goals of this funding opportunity, review eligibility requirements, and address frequently asked questions. A Q&A session will conclude this webinar.

With this solicitation, the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) seeks to prevent and reduce violent crime in communities by supporting comprehensive, evidence-based community-based violence intervention and prevention programs. These programs include efforts to address gang and gun violence, based on partnerships among community residents, local government agencies, victim service providers, community-based organizations, law enforcement, hospitals, researchers, and other community stakeholders.

OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is administering the opportunity, working in partnership with OJP’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). This collaborative approach will help ensure jurisdictions have access to expertise to address community violence that involves youth, young adults, and adults, both as the individuals responsible for perpetrating this violence and as those who are victims of it. Awards made under this solicitation may be managed by BJA, OJJDP, or OVC, depending on the nature of the project.

Presenter:

• Katharine Browning, Senior Policy Advisor, BJA

Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, Nicholas Welker, also known as “King ov Wrath,” was sentenced by United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen to 44 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to make death threats.  Welker, the leader of Feuerkrieg Division (“FKD”), an international racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist (“RMVE”) group, which translates to “War Fire,” posted death threats against a Brooklyn-based journalist (the “Journalist”) so that the Journalist would stop reporting on the Neo-Nazi group.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, announced the sentence. 

“Welker tried to silence a journalist from reporting on his white supremacist group so that his fellow extremists could continue to commit violence against racial, ethnic, and religious minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “There were real victims of this crime—the journalist and his news media organization.  Today’s sentence demonstrates that we will stand up for them and other journalists who bravely report on these violent hate groups.” 

Mr. Peace expressed his thanks to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state, and local agencies.  Mr. Peace also thanked the Estonian Internal Security Service and Prosecutor’s Office for their valuable support.

According to court filings, Welker’s threat included a photograph of the Journalist with a gun aimed at his head and the words “Race Traitor” over the Journalist’s eyes.  The threat stated, “JOURNALIST F[***] OFF!  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.”  The threat listed the Journalist and his employer by name.  Welker posted the threat to a public online forum.  Two under-aged FKD members tweeted the death threat directly at the Journalist’s social media handle so that he would see it.  Welker intended to frighten the Journalist into dropping his reporting on Welker’s hate group.

FKD members share a common goal of challenging laws, social order, and the government via terrorism and other violent acts.  The organization encourages attacks on racial minorities, the Jewish community, the LGBTQ+ community, the U.S. Government, journalists, and critical infrastructure.  FKD has members in the United States and abroad.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s National Security and Cybercrime Section.  Assistant United States Attorneys Ellen H. Sise and Andrew D. Reich are in charge of the prosecution with assistance from Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

The Defendant:

NiCHOLAS WELKER (also known as “King ov Wrath”)
Age: 33
San Jose, California

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 23-CR-141 (PKC)

Source: United States Department of Justice (Hate Crime)

PORTLAND, Maine: A Buxton man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Portland for transmitting a threatening interstate communication.

U.S. District Judge Jon D. Levy sentenced Brian Dennison, 27, to 12 months and one day in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Dennison was found guilty by a federal jury on December 7, 2023, following a three-day trial.

According to evidence presented during the trial, on September 8, 2021, Dennis posted on Twitter, “I’m going to kill jews with my ar15 tomorrow.” FBI investigators identified Dennison as the likely author of the threat and executed search warrants at his Buxton residence. Among the items seized were approximately 1,700 rounds of ammunition that could be fired from an AR-15-style rifle. Investigators also found evidence that Dennison had a long-standing animus toward Jewish people. In October 2021, investigators executed another search warrant at the property and found an AR-15-style rifle and ammunition in a case that had been hidden in the woods behind the residence.

In imposing sentence, Judge Levy noted that threats like the one Dennison communicated are corrosive and strain the fiber of our country. He also noted that the core liberties enshrined in the Constitution are undermined by threats based on someone’s faith.

“Brian Dennison communicated his violent anti-Semitic threat on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year celebration,” said Darcie McElwee, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maine. “Such repugnant threats have no place in any society. I commend the FBI for its excellent investigative work in this case. Under the First Amendment, you have a right to believe hateful things, and to express those hateful beliefs in lawful ways. But when your speech constitutes a true threat to kill or injure others, you will be held accountable.”

“Our Maine Joint Terrorism Task Force is to be highly commended for its rapid response to Brian Dennison’s threat to commit mass murder with an assault rifle, born out of his long-standing hatred for Jewish people,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Hate has no place here in Maine, and the fact that Mr. Dennison had the actual means to carry out his articulated threat is chilling. Protecting human life is our absolute priority, and the FBI stands ready to intervene whenever threatening language crosses the line into illegal activity.”

The FBI and U.S. Border Patrol investigated the case.

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