Patrick Dai ’24 Arraigned in Federal Courtroom in Reference to Antisemitic Threats

1 month ago 3 min read

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Cornell pupil Patrick Dai ’24 waived his proper to a direct detention listening to earlier than Choose Thérèse Wiley Dancks within the Northern District of New York at his arraignment listening to on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

He’s federally charged with posting threats to kill or injure one other utilizing interstate communications in reference to the sequence of threats towards Jewish college students that was posted on-line on Saturday, Oct. 28 and Sunday, Oct. 29.

If convicted, Dai will withstand 5 years in jail, a fantastic of as much as $250,000 and a time period of supervised launch of as much as three years.

Dai, who’s from Pittsford, New York — which is exterior Rochester — is a pupil within the class of 2024 and is a pc science main within the Faculty of Engineering.

After his arrest, Dai was detained on the Broome County jail in a single day awaiting the listening to.

Dai will proceed to be held in Broome County. Dai is at present represented by Assistant Federal Public Defender Gabrielle DiBella.

On Wednesday, the courtroom within the Northern District of New York was filled with reporters and Dai’s mom and household good friend, who appeared calm in courtroom. Dai stored his head down for almost all of the listening to.

Dai’s arraignment comes 4 days after a mess of posts to Greekrank — a web based discussion board devoted to discussing Greek life — that threatened hurt towards Jewish college students and a mass capturing on the kosher eating corridor and Middle for Jewish Dwelling, 104 West. The threats calling for the mass homicide and rape of Jewish Cornellians — whom the posts known as “pigs” and “animals” — resulted in instant condemnation by College officers and New York State, with Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) visiting the CJL the morning after the threats have been posted.

Hochul then introduced the New York State Police had introduced an individual of curiosity into custody on the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 31. Later that night — shortly earlier than 6 p.m. — the FBI, New York State Police, CUPD, and Ithaca Police Division entered an condo at 317 Eddy St. It’s at present unknown what, if something was seized or if any arrests have been made in the course of the raid. America Lawyer’s Workplace for the Northern District of New York launched Dai’s title in a press launch shortly after the raid occurred.

In line with courtroom documentation, Dai admitted to creating the posts on Greekrank in an audio and video recorded interview on the Cornell Police Division with FBI Particular Agent Michael Renn.

Dai has been charged with Interstate Communications underneath Title 18 § 875 (c).

“Whoever transmits in interstate or overseas commerce any communication containing any menace to kidnap any individual or any menace to injure the individual of one other, shall be fined underneath this title or imprisoned no more than 5 years, or each,” the clause states.

Assistant U.S. Lawyer Geoffrey Brown laid out the utmost penalty for the costs, that are as follows — 5 years in jail, a fantastic of $250,000 and supervised launch after three years.

Dai will subsequent seem in courtroom on Wednesday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. for a preliminary listening to, the place he will probably be evaluated in possible trigger associated to the costs.

Angela Bunay ’24 and Jonathan Mong ’25 contributed reporting.

Replace, Nov. 1, 3:26 p.m.: This text has been up to date to incorporate additional particulars.