NOTE: The indictments can be found here: Florida Indictment,
D.C. Indictment, Georgia Indictment.
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice today announced the
indictment of Michael Ron David Kadar, 19, who holds dual United States and
Israeli citizenship, in three jurisdictions for hate crimes and other offenses.
The indictment from Florida charges Kadar with hate crimes
as a result of threatening calls he made to Jewish Community Centers in the
state. In addition, the indictment from the District of Columbia charges Kadar
with threatening the Israeli Embassy and the Anti-Defamation League in
Washington, D.C. The third indictment charges Kadar with cyberstalking and
conveying false information to police dispatch regarding harm to private
residents in Georgia.
An investigation into numerous threats made to individuals
and organizations throughout the United States in 2016 and early 2017 led to
Kadar being charged initially in criminal complaints on April 21, 2017 in
Florida and Georgia following his arrest in Israel. Kadar remains in custody in
Israel where he also faces charges.
The indictment from the Middle District of Florida charges
that beginning on or about Jan. 4, 2017, and continuing until Feb. 27, 2017,
Kadar made multiple threatening calls involving bomb threats and active shooter
threats to numerous Jewish Community Centers throughout Florida. Additionally,
the indictment charges Kadar with attempting to obstruct the free exercise of
religion at the Jewish Community Centers when he made the bomb threats and
active shooter threats. Finally, the indictment charges that Kadar made bomb
threats to the Orlando International Airport and a middle school in the Middle
District of Florida. Although no actual explosives were found, many of the
calls resulted in the temporary closure and evacuation or lockdown of the
targeted facilities, and required law enforcement and emergency personnel to
respond to and clear the area.
The indictment from the District of Columbia charges that on
or about March 7, 2017, Kadar made a threatening call to the Anti-Defamation
League involving a bomb threat. Additionally, the indictment alleges that on or
about March 9, 2017, Kadar sent a threatening email to the Israeli Embassy
involving a bomb threat.
The indictment from the Middle District of Georgia charges
that on or about Jan. 3, 2017, Kadar made a phone call to a police department
conveying false information about an alleged hostage situation in progress at a
private residence in Athens, Georgia, which included a threat to kill
responding police officers. Police and emergency personnel responded to the
scene, only to learn that there was no emergency.
The hate crime charges each carry a maximum penalty of 20
years imprisonment, the bomb threats charges each carry a maximum penalty of 10
years imprisonment, and the interstate threats charge, the hoax charge, and the
cyberstalking charge each carry a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment.
If convicted, Kadar could also be subject to court ordered restitution.
“When individuals target victims of their crimes based on
who they are, what they believe, or how they worship, they target the bedrock
principles on which our nation was founded,” said Attorney General Jeff
Sessions. “These alleged threats of violence instilled fear in the Jewish
community and other communities across the country, and it is the Justice
Department’s duty to make sure all Americans can live their lives without this
type of fear.”
“These alleged threats were very real for those individuals
who were evacuated, for the first responders who quickly mobilized to get
people out of harm’s way, and for those in Jewish communities across the United
States who felt targeted and unsafe,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “This
indictment demonstrates the FBI’s commitment to working together with our
partners to protect the safety and civil rights of all Americans, and shows
that we will not stand by as someone threatens our communities based on their
religion or their beliefs.”
“Threats, intimidation, or violence perpetrated against
anyone because of their beliefs, their faith, or how they choose to worship is
intolerable,” said U.S. Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez for the Middle District of
Florida. “Individuals should be free to exercise these rights without fear. We
will continue to use our resources to enforce these precious rights for all
individuals.”
“The indictment returned today in the District of Columbia
is part of a broader nationwide fight against hate, terror, and threats in all
of their forms,” said U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu for the District of Columbia.
“The charges also reflect the tireless dedication of the DOJ, the FBI, and our
local and international partners to rooting out and prosecuting those who would
terrorize our communities.”
“Hiding behind anonymous phone calls to threaten innocent
citizens is cowardly and dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney Charles E. Peeler for
the Middle District of Georgia. “The calls that this defendant allegedly made
harassed innocent victims, endangered first responders and the victims
themselves, and needlessly consumed law enforcement resources vital to
protecting our communities.”
This case was investigated by the FBI Tampa Division, FBI
Washington Field Office, and FBI Atlanta Division; the U.S. Attorney’s Office
for the Middle District of Florida; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District
of Columbia; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia; the
Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Justice Department’s
Criminal Division; and the Criminal Section of the Justice Department’s Civil
Rights Division. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs
provided significant assistance in this case. Federal authorities also
acknowledge and appreciate the assistance and the investigative efforts of the
Israeli National Police.
An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct,
not evidence of guilt. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until
proven guilty.
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