Antisemitic live streamer sentenced to 5 years for threatening New York hospitals during a Discord broadcast.
A 32-year-old man from Portland, Oregon, was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday for making a series of antisemitic bomb threats directed at Jewish hospitals in New York City and Long Island. Domagoj Patkovic’s actions, described by authorities as a disturbing exercise in bigotry, occurred between May and September 2021. The sentencing took place at Brooklyn Federal Court, where U.S. District Judge Ramon Reyes acknowledged the severity of the threats while considering the defendant’s mental health issues and difficult personal history.
Patkovic, who had previously been seen in photos performing a Nazi salute over an unconscious individual, admitted to calling in six bomb threats as part of a disturbing online pastime shared with friends on the Discord platform. His communications included threats made on May 18, 2021, where he claimed to have placed bombs in a Jewish hospital in Queens and a hospice and senior care network. On May 24, 2021, he reiterated these threats, using hateful language and making further calls to Jewish facilities in Queens and Nassau County on September 15, claiming to have placed explosive devices throughout the institutions and voicing threats in graphic, violent terms.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella emphasized the reckless endangerment posed by Patkovic’s actions, which served to divert law enforcement resources away from genuine emergencies while fostering an environment of rising antisemitism in the United States. Prosecutors highlighted that Patkovic specifically targeted vulnerable populations, including the elderly residents of these establishments.
In defense of his client, attorney James Darrow argued that Patkovic’s mental health struggles, including bipolar disorder and homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic, contributed to his criminal behavior. He maintained that Patkovic’s involvement with the extremist elements on Discord was a misguided attempt to find a sense of belonging. Darrow requested a lighter sentence of two years and nine months, emphasizing that Patkovic deserved the chance to reform away from what he termed a “toxic corner of the internet.”
However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Reich maintained that Patkovic’s actions warranted a harsher penalty and emphasized the troubling nature of his threats, particularly as they were broadcast live to an online audience. In his concluding remarks, Judge Reyes acknowledged the need for a sentence that would deter similar future offenses while balancing Patkovic’s mental health considerations. The case highlights the intersection of technology, mental health, and rising hate crimes, illustrating a growing concern for public safety amid the complexities of online interactions.
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