A 31-year-old Oregon man is facing federal charges after allegedly masterminding a series of swatting and bomb threat schemes that targeted Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York City and Long Island. The defendant, Domagoj Patkovic, is accused of causing widespread panic and chaos by making false bomb threats that led to emergency responses and even a partial evacuation of one hospital.
According to an indictment, Patkovic and his co-conspirators began making violent threats against Jewish healthcare facilities as early as May 2021. The threats, which included claims of imminent explosions, were delivered via anonymous phone calls. On at least one occasion, the bomb hoax forced a hospital on Long Island into lockdown and a partial evacuation as local police conducted a thorough bomb sweep. Fortunately, no explosives were found at any of the threatened locations.
U.S. Attorney Breon Peace emphasized the serious nature of these threats.
“As alleged, the defendant and his co-conspirators, motivated by their hatred of Jewish people, targeted Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York City and on Long Island with hoax bomb threats, needlessly endangering patients and staff by creating chaos and alarm,” said Peace.
He added that the highest priority is ensuring the safety of all community members and that such dangerous schemes would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Patkovic’s actions were not only confined to threatening healthcare facilities; he allegedly live-streamed his threatening calls to others on social media, further amplifying the fear and hysteria. FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis condemned the defendant’s actions, stating, “The FBI will not tolerate those who utilize hoax bomb threat schemes to satisfy their anti-Semitic beliefs and endanger the wellbeing of our communities.”
Patkovic was arrested at his residence in Portland, Oregon, and is scheduled to make his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim Yu in the U.S. District Court of Oregon. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of up to 155 years in prison.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
