Utah Man Sentenced in Making Threats Against Palestinian Rights Organization

            WASHINGTON – Kevin Brent Buchanan, 64, of Tooele, Utah, was sentenced today in the District of Columbia to six months in prison in connection with threatening violence against the employees of a D.C.-based Palestinian rights organization, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

            Buchanan pleaded guilty on July 21, 2025, to a one-count information charging him with transmitting in interstate commerce a communication containing a threat to injure the person of another. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ordered Buchanan to serve three years of supervised release with mandatory participation in a mental health program.

            Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement were Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and FBI Assistant Director in Charge Darren B. Cox of the Washington Field Office.

            According to court documents, between Oct. 31, 2023, and Nov. 2, 2023, Buchanan used his cell phone to call and leave five voice mail messages for members of the organization. In his November 2 message, Buchanan stated in part: “Your families are going to be followed and watched;” “You don’t even belong in America;” “I hope every Muslim in the United States [expletive] croaks;” and “You are all going to [expletive] die, you pieces of [expletive] traitors.”

            Buchanan admitted that he intentionally targeted the organization because its staff and members are Palestinian, and because the organization advocates on behalf of Palestinians.

            The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case. The case was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua Gold for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney Sanjay Patel of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.

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