Federal gun case: Michigan man pleads guilty after anti-semitic threats against Jewish daycare

Time of India

3 days ago

A Michigan man, Hassan Chokr, accused of planning an attack on a Jewish daycare and attempting to illegally purchase assault weapons after making threats, pleaded guilty to federal gun charges.
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Chokr entered his plea on May 28 and now faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Hassan Chokr, 35, was out on bail when he drove through the parking lot of Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills, outside Detroit, and shouted antisemitic slurs and threats as parents dropped off their kids in December 2022, according to federal authorities.
Chokr then drove to a gun store in his hometown of Dearborn and tried to purchase three semiautomatic weapons, a Del-Ton AR-15-style rifle, a Landor Arms automatic shotgun, and a Glock pistol.
Chokr falsely said on the background check form that he had no prior felony convictions and no pending charges. However, he had a 2017 felony theft conviction and a pending charge for assault with a dangerous weapon. Because of this, the firearms transaction was blocked.
While awaiting the background check, Chokr reportedly told store staff, 'It ain't a fair fight out here,' and said he was 'going to even the score' and 'even the playing field real soon brothers, real soon.'
He also said he intended to use the weapons for 'God's wrath.'
US attorney Jerome F Gorgon Jr said the attempted gun purchase appeared to be part of a broader plan to carry out threats against the Jewish community.
'We believe this was an effort to follow through on his menacing threats against parents and preschoolers as they walked into a place of worship,' he said.
Prosecutors also pointed to disturbing online posts Chokr had made on Instagram. One message read: 'Your Jew tactics will only backfire on you, you have no place on this earth, Jew [expletive], Jew mother [expletives]. A storm is coming to wipe you all out of our lives.'
After his arrest, Chokr made headlines again when he exposed himself in court by pulling down his pants in front of a judge.