Man Who Threatened Synagogue in Fargo Pleads Guilty and is Sentenced on Civil Rights Charge

FARGO—Dominique Jason Flanigan pleaded guilty on March 17, 2014, to threatening a synagogue in Fargo in 2011, North Dakota U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Jocelyn Samuels announced.

U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Erickson sentenced Flanigan to one year in prison, to be followed by one year of supervised release. Flanigan was also ordered to pay a $25 special assessment to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

According to documents filed with the court, on January 4, 2011, Flanigan, also known as Kadafi Al Sadar, called Temple Beth El and left a voicemail message threatening the employees of the synagogue. He was indicted under seal by a grand jury on December 12, 2012, for interfering with a federally protected activity. The indictment charged that Flanigan’s threat intimidated and interfered with Temple Beth El employees because of their religion.

“Religious freedom is a basic civil right, and we are committed to protecting the freedom of all who worship and work at religious institutions,” said Ms. Samuels. “Those who threaten that freedom will be held accountable for their actions.”

“The North Dakota United States Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice are committed to protecting the civil rights of all North Dakotans,” said Mr. Purdon. “We take civil right violations, such as those present in this case, very seriously and work hard to see that justice is done.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan A. Healy of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of North Dakota and Trial Attorney Dana Mulhauser of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.