A Florida man has pleaded guilty after threatening to kill members of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Michigan Chapter, officials said.
Michael Shapiro, 72, of West Palm Beach, pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting threats in interstate commerce, in connection to leaving the organization threatening voicemails multiple times in 2023.
Recommended Videos
According to court documents, Shapiro left three separate voicemails to CAIR’s office in Canton, and left voicemails that included the following threats:
- December 8, 2023: “I’m going to kill you bastards. I’m going to kill you bastards.”
- December 14, 2023: ““I’m going to kill you mother f-----g bastards. Muslims! I’m going to kill you mother f-----s. I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you!”
- December 15, 2023: “You’re a violent people. Why do you come to America? Why do you come to Europe? Mother f-----s. You’re violent. You’re killers. You’re rapists. I’m going to kill you mother f-----s!”
Shapiro also admitted that he chose to threaten CAIR “because of the actual and perceived religion and national origin of the people who work at and are assisted by CAIR,” according to a release from United States Attorney Dawn N. Ison.
“No one should be able to threaten violence and instill fear on an entire community. Today’s conviction should send a strong message that those who do so will be investigated, identified, and aggressively prosecuted,” said Ison.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Canton Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson.
