Florida Man Faces Federal Charges for Threatening Mass Genocide of Israelis to World Jewish Congress

21-Year-Old Sarasota Resident Deep Alpesh Kumar Patel Faces Up to Five Years in Prison for Expressing Anti-Israeli Sentiments During Increase in Antisemitic Hate Crimes

Deep Alpesh Kumar Patel, a 21-year-old from Sarasota, has been federally charged with transmitting an interstate threat to injure after threatening to cause 'mass genocide of every single Israeli' in a phone call to the World Jewish Congress.
Patel faces up to five years in prison if convicted of the charge, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Risha Asokan and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida.
Patel confirmed making the call during a visit from law enforcement officers, but denied making any threats. He claimed he used harsh language to express his and his family's anger at Israel for what he perceives as genocide against the Palestinian people.
The threatening phone call came during a time of increased antisemitic hate crimes, which grew by 36% in 2022, marking the highest number since records began in 1979 according to the Anti-Defamation League.
The threat Patel made is connected to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has further escalated the threat level towards Jewish people in recent years.