Dearborn Man Pleads Guilty to Felon Firearm Possession After Antisemitic Synagogue Threats

Hassan Chokr, a 37-year-old man from Dearborn, Michigan, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm after making antisemitic and racist threats at Temple Beth El, a synagogue and preschool in Bloomfield Hills. In December 2022, Chokr yelled hateful threats at parents and children entering the synagogue, then went to a Dearborn gun store where he attempted to purchase a shotgun, a rifle, and a semi-automatic pistol, falsely denying his felony status on the background check form. While waiting for the background check, he expressed intentions to use the guns for "God's wrath" and to "even the score," but was ultimately denied the firearms. Prosecutors revealed Chokr had previously been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and antisocial personality disorder, and he was ruled incompetent in 2023 before being medicated to stand trial. U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. condemned Chokr's actions as a terrorizing attempt against the Jewish community, emphasizing the federal commitment to protecting Americans' right to live and worship without fear. Chokr faces up to 15 years in prison and is scheduled for sentencing in September 2025.