Dante Phearse, Threatening to Bomb Synagogue, Texas 2013

HOUSTON, TX - Dante Phearse, 33, has been convicted of threatening to bomb a synagogue in Houston, Texas.

Phearse pleaded guilty to the civil rights violation of threatening to bomb Congregation Beth Israel, a synagogue in Houston, and to making a telephone bomb threat.

The defendant called the synagogue and left a voice message stating that he and his group, which he claimed was a Satanist group, would bomb the facility unless the congregation stopped lying to people about their genetic history.

The threat was made on April 30, 2013, and resulted in the closure of the school at Congregation Beth Israel for a day and the hiring of extra security to guard the synagogue.

Phearse faces up to 20 years in federal prison for the civil rights violation and a maximum 10 years for making bomb threats over the telephone. His sentencing is set for July 7, 2014.

The FBI investigated the case with the assistance of the Houston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruben Perez and Joe Magliolo and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorneys Nicholas Murphy and Saeed Mody are prosecuting in cooperation with the Harris County District Attorney's Office.

Phearse's actions were widely condemned by the community, and the synagogue's members expressed relief that the defendant had been brought to justice.

As the case demonstrates, the threat of violence against religious institutions will not be tolerated, and those who perpetrate such crimes will be held accountable.

With this conviction, we send a clear message that hate and threats of violence will not be allowed to disrupt the peaceful practice of religion in our community.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdtx/pr/houston-man-convicted-threatening-bomb-synagogue