An Oregon man has been sentenced to five years in prison for targeting Jewish hospitals in New York with bomb threats and engaging in swatting, a scheme that prompts an armed police response by reporting a false emergency. Domagoj Patkovic received his sentence in the Brooklyn federal court, following his conspiracy to make threats and convey misleading information concerning explosives, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.
According to Joseph Nocella, Jr., the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's New York Field Office, Patkovic's actions were motivated by antisemitic hate. "The defendant endangered patients and diverted precious law enforcement resources to advance his hateful agenda against people of the Jewish faith," Nocella stated. He continued to emphasize the commitment of his office to prosecuting bomb threats and swatting schemes that target vulnerable communities. Patients waiting for care, while these incidents unfolded, experienced undue stress caused by the defendant's harmful campaign, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Patkovic initiated at least six separate hoax calls to New York hospitals, asserting that explosive devices were set to detonate. In one severe instance, a hospital on Long Island faced partial evacuation and lockdown due to his threats, as sourced from court filings. Although no actual devices were found, these threats resulted in substantial police response and bomb sweeps, wasting resources and heightening tensions amongst hospital staff and patients.
The FBI has shown no tolerance for such crimes, highlighted by Raia's sentiment regarding the consequences of Patkovic's behavior. "Domagoj Patkovic will spend significant time in prison for his targeting of Jewish hospitals across the New York metro area with hoax bomb threats," said Raia in a statement obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. He pointed out that these threats, rooted in antisemitism, caused unnecessary panic and threatened the safety of the general public. The FBI continues to prioritize the apprehension of individuals who use threats to disrupt community peace.
The prosecution was handled by the Office's National Security and Cybercrime Section, with assistance from Trial Attorney James Donnelly of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section and Paralegal Specialist Wayne Colon. Assistant United States Attorneys Alexander A. Solomon, Laura Zuckerwise, and Andrew D. Reich led the charges. The New York City Police Department and the Nassau County Police Department also played crucial roles in assisting with the case, demonstrating interagency cooperation in the face of threats to public safety.
