Michigan

A Michigan man was charged with making violent threats online.

According to evidence, the defendant used social media to plan acts of violence. He allegedly sent Antisemitic messages glorifying Nazis and past mass shooters, expressing his intent to mimic them.        

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

Press Release: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmi/pr/2023_0628_Pietila_Indictment

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