A Texas man has been charged with a federal hate crime and for making interstate threats 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, on or about Sept. 17, 2022, Athale called the main number of an organization that advocates for the civil rights of Sikh individuals within the United States. Over the next hour, Athale left seven voicemails expressing extreme hatred toward Sikh individuals working at this same organization and threatening to injure or kill these individuals with a razor. Athale’s voicemails contained references to places, people, and tenets significant within the Sikh religion. Among other things, Athale stated his intention to “catch” the Sikhs at the organization, forcibly “shave” their “top and bottom hair,” use a “razor” to forcibly “cut” their hair and “make” them bald, forcibly “make” them smoke and eat tobacco, and "show [them] the heaven."
In March 2023, Athale again called the same Sikh organization and left two more voicemails. In these messages, he used violent imagery to express his hatred toward Sikhs as well as Muslims. He suggested that the Indian Government and Mumbai Police should "catch them and beat their ass" and made other derogatory comments.
The investigation reflects that Athale has a long history of making religious-based comments and threats. For instance, he previously used a professional networking site to express to a former co-worker that he "hate[d] Pakistan" and "hate[d] Muslims." He told this co-worker: "I hate you; I just don’t know how to kill your whole family including you? Tell me??? I will figure it out [...] Probably I will hire a Jew; they will be most happy."
If convicted, Athale faces up to 10 years in prison for interfering with federally protected activities and up to five years in prison for transmitting an interstate threat. Both charges also carry penalties of up to $250,000 in fines. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
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.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sara A. Aliabadi and Jason M. Richardson for the District of New Jersey along with Trial Attorney Eric Peffley from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting this case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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