Neo-Nazi Guilty of Hate Crimes Targeting Georgia Rabbi, State House Rep.

MACON, Ga. – U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes this month tried and won a hate crime conviction against a neo-Nazi who mailed separate antisemitic threats from North Carolina to Georgia’s only Jewish State House Representative and Temple Beth Israel’s Rabbi after both women publicly supported the passage of Georgia House Bill 30, the state’s first legislation defining antisemitism.

Ariel E. Collazo Ramos, 32, of High Point, North Carolina, was found guilty of one count of mailing threatening communications with the addition of a hate crime enhancement on Nov. 4, following a two-day trial that began on Nov. 3, before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell. The defendant faces a maximum of five years in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 8, 2026. There is no parole in the federal system.

“The defendant was not exercising his free speech when he mailed antisemitic postcards to Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar and Georgia House Representative Esther Panitch—this neo-Nazi delivered a true threat to life and liberty,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes. “Antisemitic threats and all threats made against the federally protected freedoms of our citizens will not be tolerated in the Middle District of Georgia. We will utilize the full power of the federal government to protect our civil rights.”

“Antisemitic hate has no place in Georgia or anywhere, and this verdict shows these hateful threats are clearly a crime,” said FBI Atlanta Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown. “No person and no community should have to live in fear of hate-fueled violence. The conviction of Ariel E. Collazo Ramos shows the FBI’s commitment to root out these threats and ensure all people are protected in the expression of their faith.”

According to court documents and statements referenced at trial, a neo-Nazi group gathered outside of Temple Beth Israel in Macon in 2023 as the congregation was inside observing the start of Sabbath. In January 2024, Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Temple Beth Israel testified before the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Georgia House Bill 30, a bill defining antisemitism. The bill was co-sponsored by State Representative Esther Panitch, the only Jewish member of the Georgia House of Representatives. The bill was signed into law on Jan. 31, 2024. Rep. Panitch received an antisemitic postcard from Ramos at her home the morning of the bill signing; Rabbi Bahar received an antisemitic postcard from Ramos at her home the following day, on Feb. 1, 2024.

At the time, Ramos sold candles, postcards and other products depicting racial, antisemitic and white nationalist themes through his at-home business, “Patriot Candle Company.” Ramos mailed a threatening postcard to Rabbi Bahar’s home address from North Carolina. The postcard contained the handwritten statement, "Is there a child rape, torture, and murder tunnel under your house? We have the Zyklon B. Use Code ‘GASTHEJEWS’ for 10% off!" The reverse side of the postcard displayed a hand-drawn image depicting a purported Jewish male wearing a rat costume and the words “JEWS ARE RATS.” Rep. Panitch received an identical postcard to her home address. Both Rabbi Bahar and Rep. Panitch testified at trial the steps they took for their own safety in response to receiving the threatening postcards. Rabbi Bahar and Rep. Panitch had family members murdered by Nazis using Zyklon B during the Holocaust.

The case was investigated by FBI.

U.S. Attorney Will Keyes is prosecuting the case for the Government with assistance from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.

This press release about a case that occurred during the 43-day government shutdown is now available after the return to normal operations.