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Secure Community Network Applauds Arrest of Indiana Man For Threatening Fort Wayne Jewish Community; Suspect Faces Up To 5 Years in Prison

February 14, 2024 admin
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The Secure Community Network (SCN), the official safety and security organization of the Jewish community in North America, applauds the swift action taken by federal authorities in arresting Jeffrey Stevens for his alarming threats against the Jewish community of Fort Wayne, Indiana; local police; and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Stevens was charged with communicating a threat in interstate commerce, a federal offense that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. 

Following the 07 October Hamas terror attacks, according to law enforcement, Stevens posted hate-filled threats on social media and the official CIA webpage. These online threats escalated an existing FBI investigation into Stevens after a private citizen reported him to the bureau’s National Threat Operations Center (NTOC).

According to the FBI Affidavit, Stevens’ posts included:

  • I am going to kill every Jew in [Fort] Wayne, and there is nothing you can do about it…I am going to make sure I kill every one of you.
  • I have very strong Palestinian, Hezbollah, and Iranian contacts. You people better wake up. If the US strikes Palestinian resistance, you will be destroyed.
  • I am going to shoot every pro-Israel US government official in the head, and there is nothing you can do about it.

Acts of hate and intimidation have no place in our society. The offender in this case made threats to the Jewish community of Fort Wayne as well as to the dedicated members of our law enforcement and intelligence communities.

Michael Masters, SCN National Director and CEO

This arrest highlights the potential spillover of international tensions into our own backyards and sends a clear message that our law enforcement partners continue to mitigate threats before they cause harm, especially amid rising Jew-hate. This case also reinforces the value and importance of reporting mechanisms such as the FBI’s NTOC, a critical tool to report information to federal law enforcement.

Michael Masters, SCN National Director and CEO

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 in referrals from 2022.

In response to this complex and dynamic threat environment, SCN has worked in coordination with local, state, and federal authorities to respond to these incidents and ensure coordination between law enforcement and the Jewish community across North America. SCN urges every community to remain vigilant, recommit to preparation, review and enforce existing security protocols, maintain coordination and communication with law enforcement, and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement and SCN’s 24/7 Duty Desk at [email protected] or by calling 844-SCN-DESK.

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