BROOKLYN, N.Y. โ Domagoj Patkovic, 31, of Portland, Oregon, was sentenced July 23 to 60 months in federal prison for conspiring to make bomb threats and swatting Jewish hospitals in New York City and on Long Island, the U.S. Attorneyโs Office for the Eastern District of New York announced.
Patkovic placed at least six hoax calls from May 2021 onward, falsely claiming he had planted C-4 explosives in facilities such as Northwell Healthโs Long Island Jewish Valley Stream hospital. One call prompted a partial evacuation and lockdown. He livestreamed the threats over Discord while adopting the alias โAbrahimavich.โ
United States Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. said, โThe defendant endangered patients and diverted precious law enforcement resources to advance his hateful agenda against people of the Jewish faith. His actions fed a rising tide of antisemitism in America.โ
FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia added, โThese hoax threats, motivated by Patkovicโs insidious antisemitic views, wasted law enforcement resources and put innocent lives at risk. The FBI will continue to bring to justice individuals who utilize swatting and false bomb threats to cause panic and unrest in our communities.โ
Patkovic pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy and conveying false information about explosives. At his August 2024 arrest, agents recovered paint-stained clothing and electronic devices used in the calls. No actual explosives were found at any site.
Jewish advocacy groups hailed the conviction, stating that the sentence โreinforces that threats against Jewish institutions will be met with the full force of the lawโ and called for continued vigilance against antisemitic intimidation.
This article is based on verified information from the U.S. Attorneyโs Office for the Eastern District of New York and The Algemeiner.