A Florida man is facing five years in prison or a $250,000 fine after pleading guilty to making threatening calls to a Muslim organization in Canton Township.
Michael Shapiro, 72, of West Palm Beach, entered the guilty plea last week to charges of transmitting threats in interstate commerce after calling the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Michigan office during which he made explicit threats of violence. According to a prepared release from federal prosecutors, Shapiro was motivated by the actual and perceived religion and national origin of individuals who work at or are assisted by the organization.
“No one should be able to threaten violence and instill fear on an entire community,” U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison said in a statement. “Today’s conviction should send a strong message that those who do so will be investigated, identified, and aggressively prosecuted.”
According to the statement, Shapiro first called the Canton office at 6:43 p.m. Dec. 8 and left a voicemail saying, “I’m going to kill you bastards,” while laughing “manically” according to the plea agreement. He admitted calling the office again six day later with more explicit threats including foul language and death threats. He reportedly called again at 6:24 p.m. Dec. 15 referring to Muslims as “violent people” and calling all Muslims killers and rapists. He again made death threats, according to the plea agreement.
Shapiro has been charged three times in the past five years with federal crimes and has been accused of threatening U.S. Capitol Police officers, a member of Congress and their child, according to federal court records.
Amy Doukoure, a staff attorney with CAIR-MI, said the incidents were disruptive and threatening.
“What he’s doing is very serious,” Doukoure told a major news organization. “We had to close our business for several days. He was calling every day — we didn’t know where he was, whether he was serious. It was a very scary and serious incident, and we’re happy that it’s over and he has pled guilty and will be sentenced to jail time.”
