Missouri

A Missouri man was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison, in addition to owing $551,217.91 in damages, for hate crime and arson violations after pleading guilty to burning down the Cape Girardeau Islamic Center in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

On April 24, 2020, the first morning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, at about 4:50 a.m., the defendant set fire to the Islamic Center at 298 Northwest End Boulevard, in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Video showed him throwing multiple objects through the building’s glass window, causing it to break. He poured the contents of two gallon-sized containers throughout the foyer and down the hallway and then lit two fires that immediately spread through the inside of the building.

The Islamic Center suffered severe damage that rendered it unsuitable for use as a religious center. The defendant admitted that he set the fire because of the religious character of the building.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/missouri-man-sentenced-setting-fire-islamic-center

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/missouri-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-and-arson-charges-burning-down-islamic-center

A Missouri man was sentenced to more than 21 years in prison without parole after pleading guilty for attempting to murder a teenager because of his sexual orientation.

According to the plea, after a chance meeting at the Kansas City Public Library on May 29, 2019, the defendant and victim talked briefly over Facebook Messenger. The defendant then went with the victim to the Swope Park area under the guise of looking for a place to engage in a sex act. Around the same time, the defendant wrote to his girlfriend that he “might shoot this boy” because of his sexual orientation. After arriving at a secluded area with the victim, the defendant shot the victim eight times.

The defendant fled from the woods toward his apartment and tried to avoid detection or arrest. Later that day, and in the days that followed, he told people that he shot the victim because of his sexual orientation.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/missouri-man-sentenced-hate-crime-attempted-murder-teen-because-his-sexual-orientation

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/kansas-city-missouri-man-pleads-guilty-federal-hate-crime-attempted-murder-teen

A man from St. Louis admitted threatening to blow up a St. Louis synagogue in 2021.

The defendant admitted to calling the St. Louis office of the FBI on Nov. 5, 2021 and saying, “I’m going to blow up a church.” He gave his name and identified his target as the Central Reform Congregation in St. Louis, saying he would act the next morning, while people were inside.

The defendant continued to contact the FBI with threats, saying he hated Jewish people “with rage.” In a third call, he gave his location, which was on the same street as the targeted Church. Officers arrested the man without further incident.

The charges carry a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edmo/pr/st-louis-man-admits-threatening-blow-st-louis-synagogue

A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Missouri has charged a Missouri man with hate crime and firearm charges.

According to court documents, the defendant allegedly shot the victim, trying to kill him with a handgun because of his sexual orientation, causing significant non-fatal injuries.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. If guilty, the defendant faces up to life in prison on the hate crime charge and at least 10 years in prison on the firearm charge.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/missouri-man-indicted-federal-hate-crime-and-firearm-charges