THREATENING SYNAGOGUE LEADS TO CHARGE OF CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

FROM:  U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT 

Monday, August 26, 2013
Man Who Threatened Synagogue in Fargo, North Dakota, Charged with Civil Rights Violation

Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Jocelyn Samuels and U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota Timothy Q. Purdon announced that Dominique Jason Flanigan was arraigned today on civil rights and threats charges.

Flanigan was indicted under seal by a grand jury on Dec. 12, 2012, for threatening a synagogue in Fargo, N.D.   The two-count indictment charges Flanigan with issuing a threatening interstate communication and with interfering with a federally protected activity.   The indictment was unsealed prior to his arraignment.

The indictment alleges that, on Jan. 4, 2011, Flanigan called Temple Beth El in Fargo, and left a voice mail message threatening the employees of the synagogue.   The indictment charges that this threat intimidated and interfered with Temple Beth El employees because of their religion.

An indictment is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

This case is being investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lynn C. Jordheim and Megan A. Healy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota and Trial Attorney Dana Mulhauser of the Criminal Section of the Civil Rights Division.