Federal Indictment Charges Man for Making Threatening Calls Against a Maryland Synagogue

Baltimore, Maryland – A federal grand jury today indicted Stephen Lyle Orback, age 64, on the federal charge of making threatening communications, specifically multiple telephone calls threatening a synagogue.  

The indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur and Special Agent in Charge Jennifer C. Boone of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

According to the indictment, between May 12 and May 13, 2019, Orback made multiple telephone calls to an employee of a synagogue in Owings Mills, Maryland, threatening to kill many members of that Jewish congregation.

If convicted, Orback faces a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison.  No initial appearance has been scheduled.  Orback is currently detained in Colorado on unrelated state charges.

An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings. 

United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the FBI for its work in the investigation.  Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys P. Michael Cunningham and Mary W. Setzer, who are prosecuting the case.

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