Mississippi man arrested for threatening Pennsylvanian Jewish businesses, synagogues

Donovan Parrish could serve up to 50 years in prison for cyberstalking and communicating interstate threats

By AP 14 July 2023, 11:48 am Edit

Illustrative: Rabbanit Dasi Fruchter, of the South Philadelphia Shtiebel, lights a menorah during a public Hanukkah celebration and menorah lighting ceremony in South Philadelphia on Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Ryan Collerd)

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — A Mississippi man was arrested on felony charges accusing him of targeting Pennsylvanian synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses by calling them — some as many as 15 times — and making antisemitic threats.

Donavon Parish, 28, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was charged on June 27 with cyberstalking and communicating interstate threats in an indictment unsealed Thursday, the US Department of Justice announced.

Parish could be sentenced to up to 50 years in prison and a $2.5 million fine if convicted. A defense attorney wasn’t listed.

Parish used voice-over-internet-protocol technology to call three businesses and three synagogues in April and May 2022, according to the indictment. A federal grand jury determined that he intentionally selected those locations because of the perceived and actual religion of the people there, and made comments about killing Jews when they answered the phone.

Parish called one business 15 times, and one synagogue he called at least twice also housed a preschool and kindergarten, the indictment states.