Oregon Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Swatting and Bomb Threats Scheme That Targeted Jewish Hospitals in New York City and Long Island

 

One Hospital Entered Lockdown and Partially Evacuated After Defendant’s Bomb Hoax

Domagoj Patkovic was sentenced by United States District Judge Ramon E. Reyes, Jr. to 60 months’ imprisonment for conspiring to make threats and conveying false information about explosives.  The defendant made hoax bomb threat phone calls to historically Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York City and on Long Island. 

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the sentencing.

“The defendant endangered patients and diverted precious law enforcement resources to advance his hateful agenda against people of the Jewish faith.  His actions fed a rising tide of antisemitism in America,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Our Office will continue to prosecute dangerous bomb threats and swatting schemes to the fullest extent of the law, especially those motivated by hate, and those targeting vulnerable communities in hospitals and care centers.”

Mr. Nocella expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department and the Nassau County Police Department for their assistance on the case.

“Domagoj Patkovic will spend significant time in prison for his targeting of Jewish hospitals across the New York metro area with hoax bomb threats,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “These hoax threats, motivated by Patkovic’s insidious antisemitic views, wasted law enforcement resources and put innocent lives at risk.  The FBI will continue to bring to justice individuals who utilize swatting and false bomb threats to cause panic and unrest in our communities.”

As set forth in the indictment and in court filings, beginning at least as early as May 2021, the defendant and others made anonymous phone calls in which they made violent threats, including threats to detonate explosive devices, to Jewish hospitals and care centers within the Eastern District of New York, among other targets throughout the United States.

The defendant himself made threats in at least six separate calls to hospitals and also on a call with local law enforcement who had responded to a 911 call from one of the hospitals.  To amplify his hate-filled actions, the defendant livestreamed the calls to others on an online social media and electronic communications platform.  On several occasions, local police responded to the scene and conducted bomb sweeps.  On at least one occasion in September 2021, the hoax bomb threat resulted in a partial evacuation and lockdown of an entire hospital on Long Island.  No explosive devices were ultimately found in any of the locations.