A 28-year-old Hattiesburg, Mississippi resident, Donavon Parish, is facing federal charges of cyberstalking and making interstate threats after allegedly targeting Pennsylvania synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses with a barrage of antisemitic phone calls. An indictment unsealed Thursday by the U.S. Department of Justice details the accusations against Parish, who reportedly made numerous calls, some exceeding 15, laced with hateful and threatening language.
The indictment alleges that Parish utilized voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) technology to contact three businesses and three synagogues between April and May 2022. Investigators believe he deliberately chose these locations based on the perceived religious affiliation of their members. During these calls, Parish is accused of making disturbing comments about harming Jewish individuals. One business reportedly received 15 calls, while another target, a synagogue also housing a preschool and kindergarten, received at least two calls. If convicted, Parish faces a potential sentence of up to 50 years in prison and a substantial fine of $2.5 million.
