Ohio

An Ohio man and self-identified “incel” was sentenced to more than six years in prison for planning a mass shooting of sorority women at Ohio State University. The defendant posted videos on social media shooting orange juice out of a water gun at women on campus, copying the behavior of a known Incel who killed six people and injured 14 others outside of a sorority house in California in 2014. The defendant wrote notes with plans to “aim big,” “slaughter” women, and kill upwards of 3,000 people. Evidence showed the defendant had been plotting a mass shooting, searching online how to commit the hate crime, and buying tactical equipment.

The defendant was arrested by federal agents in July 2021, and he was sentenced to 80 months in prison in February 2024.

Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/highland-county-man-sentenced-more-6-years-prison-attempting-hate-crime

An Ohio man pleaded guilty to a federal hate crime for physically assaulting an Asian American student at the University of Cincinnati.

According to evidence, the defendant threatened to kill the victim while making racist comments about COVID-19 and “kung flu.” The defendant punched the victim in the side of the head, causing him to hit his head on a parked car and suffer severe injuries.

The defendant faces up to 22 months in prison.

Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/cincinnati-man-pleads-guilty-committing-federal-hate-crime-physically-assaulting-asian

Charges: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/cincinnati-man-charged-federal-hate-crime-physically-assaulting-asian-american-student

An Ohio man was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for attempting to burn down a church because of its support for the LGBTQI+ community.

According to evidence, the defendant was angry the church intended to host two drag events. He threw two Molotov cocktails at the church on the night of March 25, 2023, attempting to burn the building down.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-sentenced-18-years-prison-firebombing-church-planned-host-drag-show-events

Guilty Plea: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-pleads-guilty-attempting-burn-down-church-planned-host-drag-show-events

After targeting and attacking Haitian immigrants because of their nationality, an Ohio man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The defendant robbed, carjacked, and assaulted at least eight people in and around Springfield, Ohio because of their national origin, targeting people he believed were from Haiti. The man recruited minors to help him attack five of the victims.

Sentencing: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-sentenced-20-years-prison-federal-hate-crimes-against-haitian-nationals

An Ohio man was charged with using Molotov cocktails to burn a church in Chesterfield, Ohio that planned to host drag shows.

According to the charges, the defendant attempted to set fire to the church after learning that the church would be holding multiple drag show events the following weekend.

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

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-charged-attempting-burn-down-church-planned-host-drag-show-events

An Ohio man pleaded guilty to setting fire to a church, and now faces up to 20 years in prison.

According to evidence, the defendant broke into the Mount Zion Church in Baltimore, Ohio, on November 27, 2021, and spread an accelerant before setting the church on fire, which resulted in significant damage. During the hearing, the defendant admitted that he intentionally set the fire because of the religious character of the church.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-pleads-guilty-setting-fire-church

An Ohio man pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to commit a hate crime, which, because it involved an attempt to kill, is punishable by up to life in prison.

The man had plotted to shoot sorority students at a university in Ohio, identifying himself as an “incel” or “involuntary celibate.” The incel movement is an online community that seeks to commit violence against women in support of their belief that they have been unjustly denied sexual or romantic attention.

According to the charges, the defendant allegedly wrote a manifesto stating he would “slaughter” women “out of hatred, jealousy, and revenge” and later conducted surveillance at the university. He also maintained profiles on a popular incel website, drafting hundreds of posts. Law enforcement found guns, ammunition, body armor, and other tactical equipment in the defendant’s residence and car.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/highland-county-man-pleads-guilty-attempting-hate-crime

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-man-charged-hate-crime-related-plot-conduct-mass-shooting-women-illegal-possession

A federal court sentenced a former Columbus man to six months in prison and a $50,000 fine for a hate crime.

According to evidence, the man threatened his neighbors and their guests during an outdoor gathering in November, 2020. During the confrontation, he made a series of references to gassing Jewish people, chopping them up, and burning them in ovens. He threatened to poison and shoot their dog, and “burn to the ground” a garage that the neighbors were remodeling. He shouted more anti-Semitic slurs, spat at one of the neighbors, and broke one of their windows.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdoh/pr/former-columbus-man-sentenced-prison-hate-crime-involved-making-antisemitic-threats

An Ohio man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and attempting to commit a hate crime.

The defendant planned to target Jewish congregants at a Toledo-area synagogue while they worshipped. He met online and in person with undercover FBI agents over several months to discuss these plans. During those meetings, he stated that he wanted to kill a rabbi and that he had conducted research to determine when the Jewish sabbath was so that more people would be present. He was arrested after taking possession of two semi-automatic rifles.

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-sentenced-20-years-prison-attempting-provide-material-support-isis-and-attempting-commit

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/man-pleads-guilty-attempting-provide-material-support-isis-and-attempting-commit-attack