A man from North Carolina has been handed down the maximum sentence for sending antisemitic threats to two prominent figures in Georgia after they supported defining antisemitism in state law. Ariel E. Collazo Ramos, a 32-year-old from High Point, was sentenced on Wednesday to five years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia.
Ramos was found guilty on Nov. 4, 2025, for his role in a targeted hate crime involving antisemitic postcards sent to Georgia's only Jewish State House Representative, Esther Panitch, and Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Temple Beth Israel in Macon. Both women had publicly supported the passing of Georgia House Bill 30. According to the same source, the postcards contained threats and promotions for Ramos' business, which sold items with racial, antisemitic and white nationalist themes, with one side featuring a hand-drawn image lambasting Jewish people. Ramos was convicted following a two-day trial before U.S. District Judge Marc Treadwell, and there is no option for parole in the federal system.
In a statement via the U.S. Attorney's Office, U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes stressed the severity of hate crimes, affirming that, “individuals like this defendant will face federal prosecution for criminal acts driven by hatred.” He underlined the priority given to crimes rooted in sentiments such as antisemitism and against any race, religion, or protected groups. Robert Gibbs, FBI Atlanta Supervisory Senior Resident Agent, similarly expressed his position, stating, “Today's sentencing of neo-Nazi Ariel Ramos reinforces the FBI's unwavering commitment to protecting civil rights and sends a clear message that threats based on faith or identity will not be tolerated,” as documented by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The case against Ramos highlighted the chilling ordeal faced by the victims. During the trial, Rep. Panitch and Rabbi Bahar testified about the precautions they were compelled to take for their safety. Both had family members who were murdered by Nazis using Zyklon B, the same gas Ramos alluded to in his threats, during the Holocaust, as per the official report.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation that culminated in Ramos' prosecution and sentencing. The case is also receiving support from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section for its prosecution by the government.
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