Stephen Lyle Orback, Religious Threats, Maryland 2019
Baltimore Man Charged with Threatening Maryland Synagogue
A federal grand jury in Maryland has returned a superseding indictment against Stephen Lyle Orback, 65, for allegedly making threatening phone calls to a Maryland synagogue.
According to the indictment, between May 12 and July 21, 2019, Orback made multiple telephone calls to an employee of a synagogue in Owings Mills, Maryland, threatening to kill many members of the synagogue's congregation with firearms, by using explosives, and by burning the synagogue down.
The superseding indictment replaces a previous indictment, handed down by the grand jury on Aug. 15, 2019, which charged the defendant only with the interstate-threats count.
If convicted, Orback faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for intentionally attempting to obstruct persons in the free exercise of their religious beliefs through the threatened use of force, and a maximum of five years in prison for making threatening communications.
Orback remains detained on unrelated state charges in Colorado.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur and Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband commended the FBI for its work in the investigation, and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Michael Cunningham and Civil Rights Division Trial Attorney Zachary Dembo, who are prosecuting the case.
Key Facts
- State: Maryland
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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