North Carolina Man Charged with Mailing Antisemitic Threat to Middle Georgia Rabbi

A North Carolina man, Ariel E. Collazo-Ramos, 31, from High Point, has been taken into custody and federally charged for allegedly sending an antisemitic threat to a Rabbi in Middle Georgia.

The charge against Collazo-Ramos is for one count of mailing threatening communications. The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on April 9, was unsealed on May 2. Collazo-Ramos was apprehended at his residence in High Point, NC, and his initial appearance will be scheduled in the Middle District of North Carolina.

According to the indictment, Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar of Temple Beth Israel in Macon received a threatening postcard via the U.S. Postal Service on February 1, 2024, allegedly from Collazo-Ramos. The postcard bore a handwritten message insinuating disturbing acts and included a code for a discount. On the reverse side was a hand-drawn image portraying offensive imagery and text.

If convicted, Collazo-Ramos could face up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The case is under investigation by the FBI, with Deputy Criminal Chief Will Keyes prosecuting the case for the Government, assisted by Trial Attorney Erin Monju from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.