A man in Mississippi has pleaded guilty to targeting synagogues and Jewish businesses with threatening messages, invoking Adolf Hitler and the Holocaust. Donavon Parish, 29, admitted to the charges in federal court on Tuesday, stating that he targeted his victims based on their actual or perceived religion. He pleaded guilty to one count of cyberstalking and five counts of abuse and harassment using a telecommunications device.
According to U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero, Parish sent disturbing messages such as “Heil Hitler,” “all Jews must die,” and “gas the Jews” to synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. These messages were sent through a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service in April and May 2022. In addition, Parish made a special finding that he targeted his victims based on their religion.
Parish is set to be sentenced on September 24 and could face a maximum of 15 years in prison, with a three-year supervised release, a $1,500,000 fine, and a $600 special assessment. Romero stated, “Cyberstalking is already a serious violation and targeting victims based on their religion is a hate crime, which makes it that much more abhorrent. We and our partners will continue to work to hold accountable anyone who criminally misuses today’s technology to spread hate and fear.”
The FBI investigated the case, with special agent in charge Wayne A. Jacobs stating, “Antisemitism has no place in our society. Today’s guilty plea reinforces that we will pursue justice against those who threaten members of our communities with such vile threats. The FBI will continue to work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure our citizens feel safe in the environments they live, work and play in.”
Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking and Making Antisemitic Threats Targeting Synagogues and Jewish-Owned Businesses
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— U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) June 18, 2024
Incidents of antisemitism in the US have been on the rise in recent years. In 2022, there were over 3,000 recorded incidents, a sharp increase from the 912 incidents in 2014. However, the numbers skyrocketed in 2023 with 8,873 recorded incidents, breaking the eight-year record set in 2022. The majority of these incidents occurred after the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
The increase in antisemitic incidents is deeply concerning and highlights the continued presence of hate and discrimination in our society. As we have seen in this case, the use of technology to spread hate and fear is a serious violation and can have real-world consequences. It is important that we hold individuals accountable for their actions and continue to work towards creating a safe and inclusive environment for all members of our society. The guilty plea by Parish is a step towards justice and sends a strong message that hate will not be tolerated.