Florida man faces charges following threats to kill Muslims in Canton, prosecutors said
A Florida man is facing federal charges after he made phone calls threatening to kill members of a local American Muslim organization, prosecutors said.
West Palm Beach resident Michael Shapiro, 72, is charged with three counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce following a series of calls to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Michigan Chapter.
Prosecutors said Shapiro called the CAIR chapter in Canton Township three separate times last December and left messages filled with curse words, threats and accusations of being “violent,” “killers,” and “rapists.”
CAIR’s mission is to “enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding through education, mediation, media and the law,” according to its website.
Prosecutors say Shapiro intentionally selected the victim of his threats because of the “actual and perceived religion and national origin of the people who work at and are assisted by CAIR.”
“Today’s charges should serve as a warning that those who threaten violence, especially when they intend to instill fear on an entire community, will be identified, investigated, and aggressively prosecuted,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said in a news release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Canton Township Police Department.
Canton Township Police Chief Chad Baugh expressed thanks to the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office for partnership in addressing the threats.
“Such collaborative efforts reinforce our commitment to combating hate crimes and ensuring community safety,” Baugh said. “We are resolute in our mission to uphold the safety and rights of every individual.”
If convicted, Shapiro faces up to 10 years in prison for each of the three counts.
“Threats motivated by religious bias can have a devastating impact on an entire faith community. For this reason, hate crimes are one of the FBI’s highest investigative priorities,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, the special agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan. “We remain committed to working with our partners at the Canton Police Department and across the state to detect and prevent violent incidents motivated by bias or hate.”
The public is encouraged to report any suspected hate crimes to local police or the FBI at 800-225-5324. Online tips can be submitted at tips.fbi.gov.