Dunlow arrested on federal charges

Published 4:45 pm Friday, May 24, 2024

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RALEIGH – A Huntington Beach, California man was arrested May 24 on federal charges relating to sending threats to individuals in North Carolina, making death threats to those of the Jewish faith, and knowingly making false bomb threats.

Kevin Dunlow, age 62, is charged in a complaint unsealed in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of North Carolina following his arrest in California. He will have his initial appearance and his detention hearing will be set at a later date.

“Hate-fueled, violent threats endanger the safety of individuals and entire communities,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “This defendant is accused of making explicit and detailed threats, ranging from making a bomb threat against the Wake County Sheriff’s Office, to threatening an elected official, to telling a Rabbi, ‘I am coming to the Temple to kill all the Jews and the children.’ The Justice Department will prosecute anyone who makes illegal threats motivated by antisemitism or bias of any kind.”

“We will not normalize violent threats in America, whether targeting law enforcement, elected officials, or average citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. “The complaint alleges the defendant made violent threats against people of faith, cops, and public servants. These cases will always receive our highest attention.”

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, Dunlow made numerous threats targeting multiple entities and individuals, including an elected official, members of law enforcement, and several synagogues located in North Carolina, while residing in California at the time the threats were made.

On or about May 7, 2024, Dunlow allegedly stated, “Jews didn’t deserve to live. Jews didn’t deserve to be on this earth. I’m going to kill the Jews. I’m coming to the Temple to kill all the Jews and the children.”

In addition, Dunlow allegedly made a false bomb threat to the Wake County Sheriff’s Office.

Dunlow is charged with illegally using any form of communication to send a threat to harm or kidnap another person intentionally, and he is charged with illegally knowingly making false reports about bombs. He faces five years in prison, on each charge, if convicted.

Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel Diaz is prosecuting it.

The FBI Los Angeles Field Office and the Department of Justice’s National Security Section assisted with the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an accusation. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.