SCN Applauds Sentencing of Indiana Man for 2022 Interstate Death Threat Campaign Targeting Jews and Communal Organizations
The Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America, commends the recent sentencing of Andrzej Boryga, an Indiana man responsible for a months-long interstate campaign of death threats targeting Jewish individuals and communal organizations in 2022.
Boryga, 67, who self-identified as a Nazi, was sentenced to 24 months in prison and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to willfully transmitting threats in interstate commerce to injure other people and selecting his victims based on their religion.
Boryga was indicted on October 3, 2023, by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Indiana and faced a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Between July 9 and December 14, 2022, he left threatening voicemails at offices of the ADL (Anti-Defamation League) in New York, Colorado, Nevada, and Texas, using antisemitic slurs and making violent threats, which included decapitation and the targeted killing of Jews.
According to the indictment, the voicemails left by Boryga included: “I will f*** kill you … I can’t wait to mother*** cut your f*** head off and put around display on 3rd Avenue” and “My grandfather [unintelligible] SS officer … he personally shoot [sic] 120 Jews for target practice … I will kill more than that … You all have to die, you mother***.”
We are grateful for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the FBI and its Indianapolis Field Office for their investigative and prosecutorial work that led to a strong conviction in this case. We also extend our recognition and appreciation to the ADL, our strong partner, for their persistent work in combating antisemitism and hate, to include when that hate is directed at them – all for their work to stand up for communities under threat.
SCN National Director & CEO Michael Masters
Our law enforcement and justice systems remind us every day that they are hard at work keeping our community and all faith communities safe through their unwavering vigilance, communication, and collaboration with each other and with Jewish community partners.
SCN National Director & CEO Michael Masters
With Jewish communities facing an unprecedented rise in vandalism, harassment, false bomb threats, and violent attacks, SCN has expanded the capacity of its 24/7 Jewish Security Operations Command Center (JSOCC), which monitors for threats and issues against the Jewish community and coordinates closely with the network of security professionals working on behalf of the Jewish community, as well as with law enforcement. SCN has also provided enhanced resources to the network of Jewish security officials, to include focusing efforts on key centers of Jewish life, such as camps and campuses.
In preparation for the High Holidays and the one-year anniversary of the 07 October 2023 Hamas terror attack on Israel, SCN is surging efforts to ensure the security of the community, especially as extremist groups and other actors have identified the anniversary date as potential as a potential inspiration for committing violence against Jewish communities in North America and worldwide. Additional details on SCN’s High Holiday preparedness efforts are available here.
In 2023, SCN logged a record 5,404 threat incidents and suspicious activity reports, 112% higher than 2022’s total of 2,551. Additionally, SCN worked closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement, including the FBI, to refer 1,619 individuals to authorities in 2023 — a 110% increase from 2022.
SCN urges every community to remain vigilant, review and enforce existing security protocols, and maintain coordination and communication with law enforcement and security personnel. For imminent threats or emergencies, dial 9-1-1, and report all suspicious activity to local law enforcement as well as appropriate local reporting authorities, and SCN’s 24/7 Duty Desk at [email protected] or by calling 844-SCN-DESK.
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