Seferlis Accused of Terrorizing Jewish Institutions

PHILADELPHIA, PA – A campaign of terror allegedly waged through the U.S. mail has landed 55-year-old Clift Seferlis, of Garrett Park, Maryland, in federal court. United States Attorney David Metcalf announced today that Seferlis has been formally charged with 17 counts of mailing threatening communications and eight counts of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs. The charges stem from a barrage of threats directed at Jewish organizations and entities, a clear attempt to instill fear and disrupt religious practice.

The feds say Seferlis’ reign of intimidation spanned from at least March 2024 through June 2025. According to the information presented, he dispatched at least 40 letters and two postcards brimming with threats to over 25 Jewish institutions. These weren’t empty gestures; the letters allegedly threatened the destruction of buildings and physical harm to individuals. Targets included synagogues, Jewish museums, community centers, schools, non-profits, and even a Jewish delicatessen – a wide-ranging effort to sow discord and panic.

The indictment lays out a chilling timeline of correspondence, detailing specific dates and institutions targeted. Jewish Institution 1, a synagogue in Washington, D.C., received threats on March 6, 2024, and January 24, 2025. Philadelphia’s Jewish Institution 2 was hit repeatedly – April 4, 2024, July 29, 2024, January 18, 2025, March 5, 2025, May 7, 2025, and May 9, 2025. The threats extended beyond Pennsylvania, reaching institutions in Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Each communication allegedly contained a direct threat to the safety of those inside.

The obstruction charges are equally damning. Prosecutors allege Seferlis intentionally interfered with the free exercise of religious beliefs by threatening harm to congregants and attendees at multiple synagogues, including those in Rockville and Falls Church, Virginia. Disturbingly, the threats against Jewish Institution 12, 13, 14, and 15 allegedly included the menacing promise of using dangerous weapons, fire, or explosives – escalating the danger significantly. The FBI, USPS Inspection Service, and local police departments worked together to build the case against Seferlis.

If convicted on all counts, Seferlis is facing a potential sentence of up to 207 years behind bars, along with three years of supervised release and a staggering $5,650,000 fine. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dubnoff is leading the prosecution. This case was investigated by FBI Philadelphia, with assistance from FBI Baltimore, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Montgomery County, Maryland, Police Department, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland’s Greenbelt office.

It’s important to remember that these are accusations at this point. Seferlis is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and provide updates as they become available. Note: The release of this information was delayed due to the recent federal government shutdown from October 1, 2025, to November 12, 2025.