A North Carolina man has been taken into custody and charged with sending a disturbing antisemitic threat to a Middle Georgia Rabbi, sparking widespread outrage and concern.
Ariel E. Collazo Ramos, 31, of High Point, North Carolina, is accused of mailing a threatening postcard to Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Temple Beth Israel in Macon, Georgia, on February 1, 2024. The postcard featured a handwritten message and a hand-drawn image depicting a Jewish male wearing a rat costume.
The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on April 9, 2024, and unsealed on May 2, 2024, charges Collazo Ramos with one count of mailing threatening communications. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, with Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuting the case for the Government with assistance from Trial Attorney Erin Monju of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.
According to the indictment, the postcard was sent via the U.S. Postal Service and contained a message that included a reference to Zyklon B, a chemical used in Nazi concentration camps during World War II. The message also included a code, “GASTHEJEWS,” which allegedly offered a 10% discount.
The FBI has not released any information on whether Collazo Ramos has any prior convictions or if he has a history of making antisemitic threats. However, the case has sparked concern among Jewish communities in the region and beyond.
An indictment is only an allegation of criminal conduct, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt.
Collazo Ramos is expected to make his initial appearance in the Middle District of North Carolina at a time determined by the Court.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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