A Dallas man admitted to making threats of violence against a Sikh nonprofit organization in New Jersey, federal authorities announced.
Bushan Athale, 49, of Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty to interfering with federally protected activities through the threatened use of a dangerous weapon and transmitting an interstate threat to injure another person.
Sentencing is scheduled for June 3, 2025.
“Threats of violence have no place in our society,” said Vikas Khanna, Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. “Every individual in this country must be free to practice their religion without fear of violence or persecution. We will continue to ensure the safety of our communities by prosecuting those who threaten our basic American freedoms.”>
Athale called the main number of the organization on September 17, 2022, and left seven voicemails expressing hatred toward Sikh individuals working at the organization and threatening to injure or kill them with a razor.
The charges of interfering with federally protected activities and transmitting an interstate threat carry a maximum potential penalty of ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine, respectively.
Athale’s guilty plea also admitted to additional conduct reflecting his long history of making violent threats rooted in religious animus, including sending threatening electronic messages to a recruiter who he believed to be a Muslim, and using violent, sexual imagery to express his hatred toward Sikhs and Muslims.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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