A group of college-aged activists were released on bond after being charged with a conspiracy to threaten University of Michigan leaders for their reluctance to divest from Israel. Four of the eight defendants appeared in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Anthony Patti.
Following the arrests announced by FBI Director Kash Patel, the accused entered not guilty pleas and were released on bond. They must surrender their passports, refrain from contacting alleged victims or co-defendants, and adhere to GPS monitoring and travel restrictions.
Throughout the hearing, prosecutors argued that the defendants should remain detained due to their potential risk to the community.
Shortly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, the defendants allegedly coordinated to intimidate university leaders, law enforcement, and businesses perceived as supporting Israel.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office presented a photo showing an incident of intimidation in May 2024. Students placed fake corpses outside University of Michigan Regent Sarah Hubbard’s home. Hubbard expressed gratitude for the charges, acknowledging law enforcement’s efforts.
The defendants are accused of vandalizing property with messages like “Free Palestine” and “Divest Now.” These phrases and others appeared on the campus’s Jewish Federation Building.
According to prosecutors, the activists left threatening notes, locked entryways, broke windows, and threw acid-filled jars into homes. They documented these acts and shared them online.
The indictment claims the co-conspirators planned for months and considered using “poison, bombs, and psychological torture” to target individuals. Additional suspects allegedly discussed violent plans via text messages.
The most severe charge, witness intimidation, applies to two of the suspects who allegedly threatened someone they believed was cooperating with law enforcement. Conviction could lead to a 20-year prison term and a $250,000 fine.
Other defendants are accused of property destruction, including throwing jars and spray-painting menace messages on a university leader’s home. These actions prompted a response from authorities, though one suspect deleted their digital data before they could execute a search warrant.
Charges of conspiracy to transmit threats or destroy property carry a potential sentence of up to five years and a $250,000 fine.