A Pittsburgh resident, Talya A. Lubit, has admitted to her role in a conspiracy to deface the Chabad of Squirrel Hill synagogue, copping to her crimes in federal court. According to a recent U.S. Attorney's Office announcement, the 24-year-old entered a guilty plea to two counts, with United States District Judge Christy Criswell Wiegand presiding over the case.
In a plan steeped in animosity, Lubit, along with her accomplice, Mohamad Hamad, targeted the religious building, which serves as a hub for Jewish educational programming in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood. As stated in court, the vandalism attack took place in the early hours of July 29, 2024, when the duo spray-painted the phrase "Jews 4 Palestine" accompanied by an inverted triangle - a symbol appearing in Hamas' online propaganda videos - onto the building's exterior.
Alongside acknowledging her illegal actions at the Chabad property, Lubit has also agreed to pay full restitution for the damage inflicted there and at the Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh, which was also vandalized with similar graffiti on the same day. This restitution is part of the conditions of her guilty plea, the consequences of which could include up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Instead of her sentencing set for September 10, the court has released Lubit on bond, subjecting her to home detention.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police jointly conducted the investigation, which led to Lubit's admission of guilt. Assistant United States Attorneys Carolyn J. Bloch and Nicole Vasquez Schmitt have been accused of taking control of the government's case against Lubit.
