Jeffrey Mindock, a 50-year-old man from Tempe, Arizona, was arrested on a federal complaint and arrest warrant for making threatening statements against a local Rabbi and other members of the Jewish community. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) carried out the arrest on Saturday morning, following the receipt of an email sent by Mindock on Friday, November 3, 2023.
The email, addressed to a Rabbi at a local synagogue in Scottsdale, contained threats to harm the Rabbi and other Jewish individuals. Mindock stated his intention to “execute” the Rabbi and “every other JEW [sic]” he could find at midnight on the Sabbath. Furthermore, he demanded that the Rabbi use his influence to resolve legal issues that Mindock was facing in Utah. The email was signed “Shalom, Viktor Sitkevicz” and included an address in Tempe that matched Mindock’s listed residence in motor vehicle records.
Incidentally, the complaint made against Mindock indicated that previous threatening behavior had been directed towards a judge, with threats to “hang” the judge made from email addresses containing “sitkevicz” or “mindock.” Additionally, during a previous court appearance in 2021, Mindock had also made a threat to “execute” others.
The seriousness of the threats prompted action from law enforcement agencies, and Mindock was taken into custody to prevent any potential harm. United States Attorney Gary Restaino emphasized the importance of civil discourse and the consequences for those who engage in threatening behavior. He stated, “Civic engagement and civil dialogue help bind us together as a Nation. We have no tolerance for those who send threatening communications to Jewish faith leaders or to any other people in America. We will continue to exercise our prosecutorial discretion and deploy our resources to charge threats cases here in Arizona.”
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Chad Alvarado, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Phoenix field office, reiterated the severity with which law enforcement treats threats of violence. He emphasized the FBI’s commitment to intervening in such situations to protect human life, stating, “The FBI takes all threats of violence seriously. The FBI and our law enforcement partners must take people who make threats at their word and intervene because protecting human life is our absolute priority.”
Ultimately, the arrest of Mindock serves as a reminder of the zero-tolerance approach to threatening behavior and the swift intervention of law enforcement to ensure the safety of all individuals, regardless of their religious affiliation. These actions aim to reinforce the principle of safety and security for all members of society and demonstrate a commitment to upholding the rule of law.
As this case unfolds, it underscores the importance of addressing threats and ensuring the safety of individuals in their communities. The legal process will continue to investigate and prosecute such threatening behavior to maintain the safety and security of all individuals. It also serves as a reminder of the significant role that law enforcement agencies play in preventing and addressing threats in society. Their diligence and quick response are crucial in upholding the fundamental rights and safety of all individuals.
