Michigan

A Michigan man was sentenced to 26 months in prison for conspiring with other members of a white supremacist group, The Base, to victimize Black and Jewish people, and for spray-painting a Jewish synagogue using swastikas and symbols associated with The Base.

Evidence presented at trial showed the defendant planned to destroy property associated with Black and Jewish Americans with other members of the Base. They called it "Operation Kristallnacht” — a term that means "Night of Broken Glass,” and refers to events that took place on Nov. 9 and 10, 1938, when Nazis murdered Jews and burned and destroyed their homes, synagogues, schools and businesses. On Sept. 21, 2019, the defendant acted on the plan and spray-painted swastikas and neo-Nazi symbols on the outside walls of Temple Jacob in Hancock, Michigan.

A jury found the defendant guilty in January 2024.

Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/white-supremacist-sentenced-federal-hate-crimes-conspiracy-targeting-black-and-jewish-people

Conviction: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2024_0125_N_Weeden_Conviction

Charges: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2023_0629_Weeden_Indictment

A Michigan man was charged for spray-painting Nazi symbols on a Jewish house of worship.

According to evidence, in November, 2023, the defendant spray-painted swastikas on the Chabad House of Kalamazoo and destroyed a large menorah in front of the house. The defendant vandalized the house because the Chabad organization hosts religious, cultural and community activities including Jewish religious services.

The defendant was arrested and faces charges for federal hate crimes.

Charges: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2024_0327_Chen_J_Charged

A Michigan man was charged with federal hate crimes for targeting a predominantly Black church with racist graffiti and going on to spray paint a public park restroom.

According to evidence, in October 2021, the defendant spray-painted swastikas, the word “die” and other racist graffiti on a church in Warren, Michigan. The church has a Black pastor and serves a predominantly Black congregation. The defendant also spray-painted swastikas, a racist slur and other symbols outside a public bathroom of Trombly Park, in Warren.

The defendant was arrested in March.

Charges: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/michigan-man-charged-federal-hate-crime-offenses-defacing-predominantly-black-church

A Michigan man was sentenced to one year in prison for making a series of violent threats to kill Jewish people. In November 2023, the defendant pleaded guilty to sending messages on social media including references to Adolf Hitler, antisemitic language, and plans to engage in a mass shooting and to commit suicide.

The defendant was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, with 3 years of supervised release.

Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2024_0304_Pietila_Sentencing

A grand jury charged a Michigan man for threatening to kill Jewish people who work in the Michigan government using Twitter.

According to the charges, on February 17, 2023, the defendant tweeted a series of threats while in Texas, including “I’m heading back to Michigan now threatening to carry out the punishment of death to anyone that is jewish in the Michigan govt if they don’t leave, or confess.”

These are serious allegations. But the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmi/pr/michigan-resident-indicted-hate-crime-threatening-kill-jewish-government-officials

A Michigan man pleaded guilty to two hate crimes for attempting to intimidate people from engaging in lawful speech and protests supporting Black Lives Matter.

According to the evidence, the defendant called nine Starbucks stores in Michigan and told the employees answering his calls to relay racial threats to Starbucks employees wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts. He also threatened to kill Black people, using racial slurs to refer to his targets.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to placing a noose inside the vehicle of two of the victims. He attached a handwritten note to the noose: “An accessory to be worn with your ‘BLM’ t-shirt. Happy protesting!”

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/michigan-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crimes-death-threats-targeting-black-lives-matter-supporters 

A Michigan man pled guilty to willfully causing bodily injury to a Black teenager because of the teenager’s race. He confronted a group of Black teenagers, including the victim, in a park state park and repeatedly used racial slurs and declared that the teenagers had no right to use the public beach where the incident occurred. He then struck the victim with a bike lock, knocking out several of the victim’s teeth, lacerating his face, and fracturing his jaw.

The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/michigan-man-pleads-guilty-hate-crime-attacking-black-teenager

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/michigan-man-indicted-hate-crimes-after-attacking-african-american-teenagers