After threatening attendants of a Jewish preschool and seeking to purchase weapons, a Dearborn man was sentenced to 34 months in prison for illegal possession of firearms inside a gun store, the Michigan Eastern District US Attorney’s Office announced on Wednesday.
Hassan Chokr had pleaded guilty to illegal possession of multiple firearms on May 28, after originally being charged in 2022 with ethnic intimidation and for lying on federal firearms forms about being a convicted felon.
The 38-year-old had driven through a parking lot of a Bloomfield Hills synagogue on December 2, harassing Jewish parents as they walked their preschool children, according to the US Attorney’s office and the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
The Michigan man hurled antisemitic profanities, attacked their stances on Israel, and threatened them that they would “pay.” The Detroit Free Press reported at the time that Chokr told Jewish congregants that they were going to die.
After being asked to leave, Chokr went to a firearms store where he “possessed” a Landor Arms 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, a Del-Ton 5.56 mm. rifle, and a Glock 9 mm. semi-automatic pistol, pointing and aiming with his finger on the trigger.
Lying on federal forms
The then-35-year-old lied about his eligibility to purchase when filling out federal firearms forms, claiming that there were no felony charges pending against him. Chokr was convicted of financial transaction device theft in 2017 and at the time was facing a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon in state court.
While waiting for the background check results, Chokr reportedly stated he would “even the score” and use the guns for “God’s wrath.”
The purchase of the three firearms was ultimately denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
US Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. said in a statement that “Chokr’s sickening antisemitic threats and his apparent attempt to make good on them with guns are part of an alarming pattern of violence against believers.
“We will do everything in our power to fight against this hatred and to protect the American family and their right to worship God without fear,” said Gorgon.
Chokr was arrested and charged with ethnic intimidation two days after the incident at the synagogue, according to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.
“Antisemitic and racist threats or ethnic intimidation of any kind will not be tolerated in our community, and every such incident will be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald had said in a 2022 statement.
According to the Detroit Free Press, in a Zoom court hearing for his prior assault charges four days after the synagogue incident, Chokr removed his pants and mooned the judge. He was also abusive during his arraignment for two counts of ethnic intimidation the day prior, calling a magistrate a “Jewish” and “Zionist bitch.”
FBI Detroit Field Office Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman said in a Wednesday statement that the sentencing affirmed that Chokr’s actions had no place in society.
“The FBI in Michigan has zero tolerance for threats to our citizens and remains firmly committed to protecting the communities we call home,” said Coleman.