06-04-2025
Man convicted of crimes targeting Christian churches in California
( — After an 11-day trial, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict Thursday against 45-year-old Zimano Salah, convicting him of strapping a backpack around the toilet of a Christian church in Roseville, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California.
Saleh intended to convey a hoax bomb threat and obstruct the free exercise of religion to those who worshipped there. The jury's verdict included a special finding that makes this incident a hate crime.
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From September to November of 2023, Salah traveled to four Christian churches in Arizona, California, and Colorado wearing black backpacks. He placed the backpacks at two of those churches, spreading fear to congregants. He was stopped by security before he was able to plant the other two.
During a search of Salah's storage unit, an FBI Bomb Technician seized items that an FBI Bomb Expert testified at the trial served as parts of an improvised explosive device capable of fitting inside a backpack.
Salah's social media records also revealed that he consumed extremist propaganda online. His search history included videos of 'Infidels dying', according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He also watched videos depicting ISIS terrorists murdering people.
'This Department of Justice has no tolerance for anyone who targets religious Americans for their faith,' said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. 'The perpetrator of this abhorrent hate crime against Christians will face severe punishment.'
The efforts of federal, local law enforcement, and attorneys were commended during the trial.
'The Sacramento Division of the FBI is proud of our collaboration with our local partners in bringing Mr. Salah to justice. His deliberate targeting of multiple places of worship and calculated efforts to spread panic were intended to terrorize people of faith and disrupt the peace of our communities,' Special Agent in Charge Sid Patel said.
Salah is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18 by U.S. District Judge Dena Coggins and faces a maximum statutory penalty of six years in prison with a $250,000 fine. The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account many variables.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Roseville Police Department, the San Diego Police Department, and the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office.
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