Texas Man Charged with Federal Hate Crime for Threats against Sikh Organization

CAMDEN, N.J. – A Texas man has been charged with a federal hate crime for making threatening voicemails against employees of a Sikh nonprofit organization.

Bhushan Athale, 48, of Dallas, was charged by complaint with one count of interfering with federally protected activities through the threatened use of a dangerous weapon and one count of transmitting an interstate threat to injure another person.

According to the criminal complaint, Athale made seven threatening voicemails to the organization on September 17, 2022. In the voicemails, Athale expressed extreme hatred toward Sikh individuals working at the organization and threatened to injure or kill them with a razor. Athale’s voicemails were filled with violent imagery and obscenity, and contained references to places, people, and tenets that are particularly significant within the Sikh religion.

In March, Athale made two more threatening voicemails to the organization, again expressing hatred toward Sikhs and Muslims. The investigation reflects that Athale has a long history of making religious-based comments and threats, including a previous incident where he used a professional networking site to express hatred toward Pakistan and Muslims.

Athale faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the interfering with federally protected activities charge and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the transmitting an interstate threat charge. Both charges also carry a penalty of up to a $250,000 fine. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey, and Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs of the FBI Philadelphia Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Philadelphia Field Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Jason M. Richardson for the District of New Jersey and Trial Attorney Eric Peffley of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. A criminal complaint is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Athale’s history of making hate-filled threats has left many in the Sikh community shaken. ‘This is a disturbing case that highlights the need for continued vigilance against hate crimes,’ said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke. ‘We will not tolerate threats against individuals or groups based on their religion or ethnicity.’

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions and the need for continued education and awareness about the dangers of hate crimes.