Schifer Gets Six Months for Vile Antisemitic Hate Crime

COLUMBUS, OH – Douglas G. Schifer, 66, of Bucyrus, Ohio, will spend the next six months in federal prison for a particularly venomous hate crime. Schifer was sentenced today after pleading guilty to criminally interfering with the right to fair housing, stemming from a barrage of antisemitic threats and acts of vandalism directed at his former neighbors in Columbus.

The incident unfolded on November 7, 2020, during an outdoor gathering at the neighbors’ residence. Schifer unleashed a torrent of hate-filled language, specifically targeting the family and their guests because of their religion. According to plea documents, Schifer’s tirade included the horrifying statements: “all you f***ing people, it’s no wonder Hitler burned you people in ovens,” “f***ing Hitler should have gassed you,” and the repeated, chilling refrain, “Jews burn, you belong in ovens.”

But the verbal abuse didn’t stop there. Schifer also threatened to shoot his neighbors and their dog, vowing to “burn to the ground” a garage they were remodeling. He further escalated the harassment by calling his neighbors a “f***ing dog” and threatening to poison their pet if it approached the property line. The vitriol culminated in Schifer breaking one of the neighbors’ windows and spitting on one of them. He made repeated references to gassing, chopping up, and burning Jewish people in ovens.

Federal authorities moved swiftly. Schifer was charged by a federal criminal complaint in March and entered a guilty plea in June. Today’s sentencing – six months imprisonment, a hefty $50,000 fine, and one year of supervised release – sends a clear message that such behavior will not be tolerated. U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Preston Deavers handed down the sentence, signaling the seriousness of the offense.

“This case underscores the FBI’s unwavering commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans,” stated J. William Rivers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Cincinnati Division. Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant added that her department fully supported the federal investigation. The prosecution team, led by Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate, Senior Litigation Counsel Heather A. Hill, and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, successfully argued for a substantial penalty.

United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, Kenneth L. Parker, emphasized the importance of holding perpetrators of hate crimes accountable. This sentencing serves as a stark reminder that threatening and intimidating individuals based on their religious beliefs is a federal crime with serious consequences. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on all federal crimes impacting Ohio communities.