TWO MEN INDICTED ON CHARGES OF VIOLATING THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF MEMBERS OF ISLAMIC CENTER OF AMERICA

WASHINGTON, DC - The Justice Department today announced that a federal grand jury has indicted two New York men for allegedly threatening members of the Islamic Center of America in Detroit, Michigan.

According to the indictments, which were unsealed today, Michael Bratisax and John Barnett both sent threatening e-mails on different occasions from their home computers in New York State to the Islamic Center of America with the intent to threaten Muslims in the free exercise of their religion. The government alleges that the e-mails threatened to kill Muslims in response to events in the Middle East. In order to prevail, the government must show that the e-mails constituted a "true threat" such that a reasonable recipient would take them seriously.

If convicted, Bratisax faces a maximum penalty of 12 years in prison. Barnett faces a maximum penalty of six years in prison. An indictment is an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being jointly prosecuted by attorneys from the Civil Rights Division and the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.

The Justice Department has investigated over 600 incidents of alleged bias-motivated crimes against individuals perceived to be of Middle Eastern origin since September 11, 2001. Federal charges have been brought in 22 cases against 27 defendants, yielding the conviction of 18 defendants to date. With the help of the Justice Department in a number of cases, state and local authorities have brought nearly 150 criminal prosecutions.

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