Friday, July 14, 2023
Man Harassed Philly-Area Jewish Businesses, Synagogues: Feds
Federal charges have been filed against a Mississippi man who authorities said harassed and threatened Philadelphia-area Jewish businesses and synagogues.
United States Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero said Donavon Parish, 28, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was arrested and charged by indictment on charges of cyberstalking and communicating interstate threats.
The federal grand jury made a special finding that Parish targeted these businesses and places of worship based on their actual and perceived religion.
Authorities said that in April and May 2022, Parish used an internet service to make a series of phone calls to synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The district includes Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Berks, and Lehigh counties.
Some of the targeted establishments are in Philadelphia, while the exact locations of others were not released by federal authorities due to the case being in its indictment stage, according to officials with the district.
In these calls, Parish referenced the genocide of approximately six million Jewish people during the Holocaust, stating, among other things, "Heil Hitler," "all Jews must die," "we will put you in work camps," "gas the Jews," and "Hitler should have finished the job."
The indictment alleges he called these establishments about 25 times and used the language referenced above.
If convicted, Parish faces a maximum possible sentence of 50 years of imprisonment, three years of supervised release, a $2.5 million fine, and a $1,000 special assessment.
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