Florida Man Sentenced 18 Months for Threats Against CAIR-MI

Michael Shapiro, a 73-year-old man from West Palm Beach, Florida, has been sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for making death threats against the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Michigan Chapter. In December 2023, Shapiro left three threatening voicemails at CAIR's office, expressing violent intent towards its members. He pleaded guilty to transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, acknowledging that his actions were motivated by bias against Muslims. The U.S. Attorney's Office emphasized that such hate-driven threats will be aggressively prosecuted to deter future incidents. Shapiro's attorney noted his struggles with mental health and substance abuse, which contributed to his behavior. The sentencing serves as a warning against hate-fueled violence, especially in light of rising anti-Muslim sentiments in recent times.