Florida Man Charged With Threatening Michigan Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations

A Florida man has been indicted on charges of repeatedly threatening the Michigan chapter of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).  

Michael Shapiro, 72, of West Palm Beach, is charged with three counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce relating to three separate phone calls he placed last December to CAIR’s office in Canton.

The voicemails were as follows, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office:  

• December 8, 2023: “I’m going to kill you bastards. I’m going to kill you bastards.”
• December 14, 2023: “I’m going to kill you motherfucking  bastards. Muslims! I’m going
to kill you motherfuckers. I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill you! I’m going to kill
you!”
• December 15, 2023: “You’re a violent people. Why do you come to America? Why do you
come to Europe? Motherfuckers. You’re violent. You’re killers. You’re rapists. I’m going
to kill you motherfuckers!”

The calls come at time of heightened tension around the world over the Israel-Hamas war.

“Threats motivated by religious bias can have a devastating impact on an entire faith community," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, head of Detroit's FBI, in a statement.