Kevin Brent Buchanan, Threatening a Palestinian Rights Organization, Utah 2024

Utah Man Convicted for Threatening a Palestinian Rights Organization

A Utah man pleaded guilty to transmitting in interstate commerce a communication containing a threat to injure the person of another. Kevin Brent Buchanan, 48, of Utah, threatened violence against the employees of a D.C.-based Palestinian rights organization.

According to publicly filed court documents, between October 31, 2023, and November 2, 2023, Buchanan used his cellular phone to call and leave five messages for members of the organization. In his November 2 voice message, Buchanan stated in part: “Your families are going to be followed and watched.”; “You don’t even belong in America.”; “I hope every Muslim in the United States [expletive] croaks.”; “You are all going to [expletive] die, you pieces of [expletive] traitors.”

Buchanan admitted that he intentionally targeted the organization because its staff and members are Palestinian, and because the organization advocates on behalf of Palestinians. U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly scheduled a sentencing hearing for November 18.

Buchanan faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine not to exceed $250,000. The FBI Washington Field Office investigated the case, and Trial Attorneys from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, along with U.S. Attorneys from the District of Columbia, are prosecuting the case.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for the District of Columbia, and Assistant Director in Charge Steven Jensen of the FBI Washington Field Office made the announcement.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of their background or affiliation. The investigation and prosecution of this case demonstrate the commitment of law enforcement agencies to combating hate crimes and ensuring that those who engage in such behavior are held accountable.

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