Mufid Fawaz Alkhader, a 29-year-old resident of Schenectady, New York, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his involvement in firearm and religious hate crimes related to an incident outside Temple Israel in Albany. The sentencing took place in Albany, where Alkhader faced charges including conspiring to illegally straw purchase a firearm, obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs with a dangerous weapon, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said, “The Department of Justice stands firmly against antisemitism and all hate crimes. We are committed to protecting everyone in our communities and upholding the freedom of religion as enshrined in the First Amendment of the Constitution.”
Acting U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III commented on the timing and nature of the shooting: “This shooting, outside of a synagogue on the eve of a Channukah celebration, was unfortunately emblematic of the anti-Semitic violence, rhetoric and practices that have swept this country over the last few years. This year, the Justice Department has emphatically said – through its words and actions – no more. My Office, with our law enforcement partners, will do everything within our powers to make sure everyone in the Northern District of New York can exercise their right to practice their religion without fear of violence and hatred.”
Court documents show that Alkhader admitted he conspired with Andrew Miller between November 1 and November 6, 2023. Miller agreed to buy a shotgun for Alkhader by misrepresenting himself as the actual purchaser at an Albany firearms dealer. On November 5, they purchased a Kel-Tec KS7 12-gauge pump-action shotgun.
On December 7, 2023—hours before Temple Israel was set to host a concert and candle lighting ceremony for Chanukah—Alkhader arrived at Temple Israel by Uber around 2 p.m., walked toward its entrance with the shotgun visible, fired two shots into the air while shouting “Free Palestine!”, then attempted unsuccessfully to fire again when his weapon jammed. He also tried to remove an Israeli flag from outside before being arrested by police near a hospital nearby. Due to these actions, Temple Israel canceled its planned event that evening; congregants expressed fear about returning.
United States District Judge Anne M. Nardacci imposed an additional five-year supervised release term following Alkhader’s imprisonment.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli stated: “Mr. Alkhader’s violent actions were fueled by hatred for individuals simply because of their faith. That hatred caused tremendous terror within the Temple Israel community – and the Jewish community as a whole – as they were preparing for the first night of Channukah. We hope this sentence can play an important part in the community’s continued healing process, but can also serve as a notice that violence, especially borne from hate, will not be tolerated by the FBI. We will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate these hateful incidents and bring justice to the victims, so no one has to live in fear.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller added: “This sentencing reflects our commitment to stopping those who unlawfully obtain firearms to cause fear and chaos in our communities. When individuals conspire to bypass gun laws and use firearms to intimidate others, they will be held accountable. This case highlights the importance of our ongoing work to disrupt illegal firearm activity before it turns deadly. I’m grateful for the partnership between ATF NY Albany Field Office, FBI Albany, the Albany Police Department, the New York State Police and U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District of NY — a united front in keeping our communities safe.”
Albany Police Chief Brendan Cox stated: “The sentencing in this case sends a clear message that violence and crimes of hate targeting any community, including those of our Jewish community, will not be tolerated. The Albany Police Department remains committed to protecting all communities and to hold those accountable who seek to spread fear and hate.”
Andrew Miller previously pleaded guilty for his role as straw purchaser; he received a sentence of 14 months’ imprisonment.
The investigation was conducted by multiple agencies including FBI’s Albany Field Office (https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/albany), ATF (https://www.atf.gov/contact/atf-new-york-field-divisions), and Albany Police Department (https://www.albanyny.gov/199/Police-Department). The prosecution team included Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard Belliss and Alexander Wentworth-Ping from Northern District of New York; Trial Attorney Trevor Kempner from DOJ Civil Rights Division; Trial Attorney Jennifer Levy from DOJ National Security Division; along with Assistant U.S Attorneys Michael Perry and Michael Gadarian providing counsel during investigation.
