Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Threats Against CAIR

Michael Shapiro, a 72-year-old man from West Palm Beach, Florida, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of transmitting threats in interstate commerce after making threatening calls to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Michigan Chapter. In December 2023, Shapiro left three voicemails filled with violent threats and derogatory remarks aimed at Muslims, citing their religion and perceived national origin as the reason for his threats. He faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release. U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison emphasized that such threats instill fear in communities and vowed that those responsible will be prosecuted aggressively. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Canton Police Department. This conviction highlights the legal system's intolerance for hate-motivated threats and its commitment to community safety.