ARIZONA NEWS

Tempe man arrested for antisemitic email threatening to execute Scottsdale rabbi

Nov 7, 2023, 4:25 AM | Updated: 6:07 am

(Pixabay Photo)...

(Pixabay Photo)

(Pixabay Photo)

PHOENIX — The FBI arrested an Arizona man Saturday morning on a federal complaint and arrest warrant for allegedly making a threat to execute a Valley rabbi and “every other JEW [sic] I can find tonight at midnight of your Sabbath.”

The complaint alleges 47-year-old Jeffrey Mindock of Tempe sent an antisemitic email Friday to a rabbi at a Scottsdale synagogue. The email asked the rabbi to “try to convince” a Utah judge to “drop the charges against” Mindock in a state district court case.

“If you do not use your influence to right this wrong I will execute you and every other JEW [sic] I can find tonight at midnight of your Sabbath.” the email stated. “If you wish to communicate with me further, I will only meet in person,” listed an address for the sender in Tempe, and was signed, “Shalom, Viktor Sitkevicz.”

Antisemitism rose in the U.S. in 2022 after a record year of incidents in 2021. Muslim and Jewish civil rights groups said they’ve seen a rise in harassment reports against members of their communities since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks.

More allegations of threats

The complaint also alleges Mindock’s address was listed in the motor vehicle records as the same Tempe address listed in the email. In addition, the threatening behavior by Mindock extends to a prior email threat to “hang” a judge. The message was sent from the email addresses containing “sitkevicz” or “mindock.” Another threat made during a previous court appearance in 2021 to “execute” others, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

“We have no tolerance for those who send threatening communications to Jewish faith leaders or to any other people in America,” Gary Restaino, U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona, said in a press release.

“We will continue to exercise our prosecutorial discretion and deploy our resources to charge threats cases here in Arizona.”

The FBI stresses that it takes all threats of violence seriously.

“The FBI and our law enforcement partners must take people who make threats at their word and intervene, because protecting human life is our absolute priority,” Chad Alvarado, acting special agent in charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office, said in a press release.

The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Tempe Police Department and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona is handling the prosecution.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

Arizona News

Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup closed its Tempe and Chandler locations....

Kevin Stone

Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup closes 2 of its 5 metro Phoenix restaurants

Gadzooks Enchiladas & Soup, a family-owned Valley restaurant business, has shuttered two of its five locations.

25 minutes ago

A pedestrian was struck and killed on a freeway access road near downtown Phoenix Wednesday night....

Kevin Stone

Pedestrian struck and killed on freeway access road near downtown Phoenix

A pedestrian was struck and killed on a freeway access road near downtown Phoenix Wednesday night, authorities said.

2 hours ago

Westbound Interstate 10 was closed in Tempe early Thursday due to a law enforcement situation....

Kevin Stone

Interstate 10 closed in Tempe for investigation into fatal shooting

Westbound Interstate 10 was closed in Tempe for a homicide investigation early Thursday after a woman was found dead at a gas station, authorities said.

3 hours ago

(City of Phoenix media photo)...

Bailey Leasure

Phoenix reaches housing creation and preservation goal 5 years early

Phoenix announced it has reached its goal of creating or preserving over 53,000 houses throughout the city.

4 hours ago

The Mesa Library has begun installing solar panel canopies. In addition to generating energy, the s...

David Veenstra

Mesa Library installing solar panel canopies to generate energy, provide shaded parking

The Mesa Library has begun installing solar panel canopies. In addition to generating energy, the solar panel canopies will provide covered parking.

5 hours ago

Valley events calendar...

KTAR.com

Valley events calendar: Here’s a rundown of things to do around metro Phoenix

Our Valley events calendar keeps you up to date on the wide variety of activities across the Phoenix area.

5 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to start your retirement planning early and avoid costly mistakes

Retirement planning can feel overwhelming, but with the right guidance, you can avoid costly pitfalls.

...

Fiesta Bowl Foundation

Join us for the 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade

The 52nd annual Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe returns on Saturday, December 28, at 10 a.m.

...

The UPS Store

How The UPS Store is giving back to the community

PHOENIX -- As 2024 nears a close, The UPS Store is looking to give back to the Arizona community with the holiday season approaching.

Tempe man arrested for antisemitic email threatening to execute Scottsdale rabbi