A Canandaigua man is facing federal charges after sending violent threats targeting a holiday event at a local museum, prompting its cancellation and sparking a federal investigation.
Federal prosecutors announced Tuesday that 56-year-old Michael J. Keitz was charged with interstate transmission of threats to injure others. The charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to the criminal complaint, the director of the Granger Homestead and Carriage Museum received an email on November 5 from a sender expressing interest in making a $20,000 donation. But just two days later, that same email address — sent a chilling message with the subject line “DEATH TO THE JEWS,” threatening to “bring death and destruction” to an upcoming Christmas market at the museum.
The email referenced “swift justice worse than OCTOBER 7th” and forced the museum to cancel the event scheduled for that weekend. Organizers reported losses of about $10,000 in expenses and missed revenue.
Keitz was arrested on November 9 by Canandaigua Police on an unrelated matter. Investigators later traced the threatening emails to his account and found they had been sent from the Wood Library in Canandaigua.
Keitz has a history of serious offenses. He is currently on federal supervised release following a 2021 bank robbery conviction for which he served seven years in prison.
“A threat by any individual to harm a large number of people in a public setting is concerning and something that our Office takes very seriously,” said U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo. “Residents of the Western District of New York deserve to move around their community freely, whether it be everyday activities or attending a holiday event.”
FBI Special Agent-in-Charge Philip Tejera added, “The FBI takes all acts or threats of violence seriously and is committed to working side-by-side with our law enforcement partners to ensure the safety of our communities.”
Keitz appeared in federal court and remains in custody.
The case is being investigated by the Canandaigua Police Department, New York State Police, and the FBI.
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