A former Cornell University student, Patrick Dai, 22, was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for making violent threats against Jewish students online. Dai, originally from Pittsford, New York, admitted to posting a series of graphic and antisemitic messages in October 2023, including threats to bomb, shoot, and kill Jewish members of the Cornell community. His posts targeted a dining hall and Jewish center on campus, causing widespread fear and disrupting the university’s operations.
Dai’s sentence includes three years of supervised release, with conditions such as mental health treatment, electronic monitoring, and a ban on contact with Cornell University. The court classified the offense as a hate crime, citing the severe impact on the Jewish community and the broader Cornell campus. U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman emphasized the disruption caused by Dai’s threats, which “shattered the community’s sense of safety.”
Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the New York State Police, quickly identified and arrested Dai. The sentencing underscores the federal government’s commitment to combating hate crimes and ensuring that educational institutions remain safe for all students, regardless of their background or beliefs.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].