Former Cornell Student Sentenced to 21 Months for Threatening Jewish Classmates

Patrick Dai's threats targeted Jewish students in the wake of the Israel-Gaza conflict, leading to campus-wide fear and increased security.

Patrick Dai posted violent threats on an online forum, including plans to attack a dining hall and Jewish students.
Dai, 22, pleaded guilty to making threats and was sentenced to nearly two years in prison and three years of supervised release.
The threats were made shortly after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, amid heightened tensions and antisemitic incidents.
Dai's defense argued his actions were a misguided attempt to highlight Hamas's actions and that he suffers from autism.
The case underscores rising antisemitism and the need for vigilance against hate crimes on college campuses.