Michael Shapiro, a 73-year-old resident of West Palm Beach, Florida, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for making death threats against the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Michigan Chapter. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Julie A. Beck.
Shapiro's sentencing followed his guilty plea on December 3, 2024, to transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. Court documents revealed that Shapiro left threatening voicemails at CAIR’s office in Canton, Michigan, on three separate occasions in December 2023. The messages included explicit threats and derogatory remarks aimed at Muslims.
"No one should be able to instill fear on an entire community by threatening violence," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Beck. "Today’s sentence sends a strong message that people who do so, especially when motivated by bias, will be aggressively prosecuted and severely punished."
Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, commented on the case: "Today's sentencing of Michael Shapiro highlights the severe consequences of hate-driven threats and sends a strong message to others with similar malicious intentions." He emphasized the FBI's commitment to investigating federal hate crimes and fostering positive relationships with communities and faith-based organizations.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation alongside the Canton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frances Lee Carlson prosecuted the case.