PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A man from Portland was charged in an alleged swatting and hoax bomb threat scheme that targeted Jewish hospitals around New York, authorities announced Tuesday.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York said 31-year-old Domagoj Patkovic was arrested at his home on Tuesday morning and later charged with conspiring to make and making threats concerning explosives, conspiring to transmit and transmitting threatening communications, and conveying false information concerning explosives.
According to authorities, starting around May 2021, Patkovic and others made anonymous phone calls to Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York – among other targeted areas around the United States -- making threats to detonate explosive devices and livestreaming the phone calls on social media.
Patkovic is accused of making at least six calls to hospitals and one call with local law enforcement who responded to a 911 notification from one of the hospitals.
The hoax threats led to bomb sweeps by local law enforcement, including one case in September 2021, when a hoax bomb threat led to a partial evacuation and lockdown at a Long Island hospital, authorities said, noting no explosive devices were found in any of the locations.
“As alleged, the defendant and his coconspirators, motivated by their hatred of Jewish people, targeted Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York City and on Long Island with hoax bomb threats, needlessly endangering patients and staff by creating chaos and alarm,” said United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace. “Our highest priority is ensuring all members of our community are protected and we will use all resources possible to prosecute dangerous bomb threats and swatting schemes to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Domagoj Patkovic allegedly issued a series of false bomb threats against Jewish healthcare facilities that prompted repeated emergency responses from local law enforcement and a partial evacuation from at least one hospital. These alleged actions incited unnecessary hysteria and redirected limited resources to mitigate a false alarm. The FBI will not tolerate those who utilize hoax bomb threat schemes to satisfy their anti-Semitic beliefs and endanger the wellbeing of our communities,” FBI Acting Assistant Director in Charge Christie M. Curtis added.
If convicted, Patkovic faces a sentence of up to 155 years in prison.
It is not clear if Patkovic has a defense attorney.
