Six Pittsburgh-Area Defendants Charged with Hate Crime and Obstruction of Justice for Late-Night Antisemitic Attack on Jewish Male

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has charged six residents of the greater Pittsburgh area with violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, obstructing justice, and conspiring to obstruct justice in relation to a September 2024 attack on a Jewish male in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.

The seven-count Indictment named Muhammed Koc, 27, of Pittsburgh; Omar Alshmari, 28, of Monroeville; Abraham Choudhry, 22, of Monroeville; Emirhan Arslan, 24, of McKees Rocks; Ali Alkhaleel, 19, of Pittsburgh; and Adeel Piracha, 22, of Murrysville, as defendants.

"We will prosecute this alleged act of violent antisemitism to the fullest extent of the law," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "This Department of Justice will always protect the First Amendment right to worship freely and without fear for Jewish Americans and all Americans of faith."

"As alleged in the Indictment, this incident began with two defendants physically attacking an individual because of the victim's Jewish identity," said United States Attorney Rivetti. "Then, these defendants corruptly colluded with one another to provide false and misleading testimony before a federal grand jury tasked with investigating the assault. Obstruction is illegal and undermines the pursuit of justice; it will not be tolerated within our legal system, particularly when defendants testify falsely in an effort to protect individuals who commit hate crimes and acts of violence."

According to the Indictment, on or about September 27, 2024, at 2:01 a.m., the defendants except for Piracha were all part of a group that made virulent antisemitic statements to a passerby in Oakland upon seeing the individual's necklace bearing a Star of David pendant. Following a verbal confrontation, during which additional antisemitic comments were made, Koc and Alshmari physically attacked the victim, causing bodily injury that included physical pain, a split lip, and headaches. The Indictment charges Koc and Alshmari, aiding and abetting one another, with willfully causing bodily injury to the victim because of the individual's actual and perceived race and religion.

Later that day, and throughout the following months, Piracha and the other defendants discussed the incident via social media messaging and group chats, during which Alshmari identified himself and Koc as two of the individuals listed in a University of Pittsburgh crime alert about the attack. In subsequent conversations by text messaging, both Alshmari and Koc admitted to being involved in the attack on the victim.

The Indictment further alleges that the defendants conspired with one another to obstruct and did obstruct the due administration of justice regarding this crime by, for example, agreeing to falsely align their testimony about the attack and providing false and misleading information before the federal grand jury. Several defendants testified falsely as to whether they or others struck the victim, whether the attack was related to the victim's Jewish identity and Star of David necklace, and whether they had discussed with any others what to say to the grand jury, among other false statements. Read the full Indictment here.

"Antisemitism has no place in our country," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "The Department of Justice will continue to investigate allegations of violence against people of faith and will work to ensure the safe exercise of religious practices-whether that be through wearing religious symbols or visiting houses of worship."

"Violence that targets someone because of their religious beliefs is unacceptable in American society," said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec. "Freedom of religion is a fundamental principle at the core of many communities across our nation. FBI Pittsburgh and our local, state, and federal partners stand committed to protecting all faith communities from acts of hatred and intimidation. Incidents such as this will be met with a swift, decisive law enforcement response as we will pursue those believed responsible with the full force of the law."

For the hate crime and obstruction of justice counts, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. For the conspiracy to obstruct justice count, the law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Carl J. Spindler and Trial Attorney Adam Hassanein from the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, aided by the University of Pittsburgh Police, conducted the investigation leading to the Indictment.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.