A federal hate crime indictment has been issued against Bhushan Athale, a 48-year-old Indian American man from Dallas, Texas, for making violent threats against employees of a Sikh organization. Athale is known for his long history of religiously motivated threats and remarks, which have now culminated in serious federal charges.
Details of the hate crime
Bhushan Athale faces accusations of making interstate threats against employees of a Sikh non-governmental organization (NGO). The Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Athale yesterday with one count of interfering with federally protected activities through the threatened use of a dangerous weapon and one count of sending a threat to harm someone else across state lines.
Nature of the hate Crime
The DOJ’s criminal complaint outlines that in September 2022, Athale left seven voicemails on the primary number of a group dedicated to defending the civil rights of Sikh people in the United States. These voicemails, filled with violent imagery and profanities, expressed Athale’s intense hatred towards the Sikh employees. He made specific references to Sikh religious principles, individuals, and locations significant to the Sikh community. Athale threatened to “catch” the Sikh employees, “show [them] the heaven,” and “shave” their “top and bottom hair,” ultimately threatening to make them bald with a razor. Additionally, he mentioned smoking and eating tobacco in a context meant to offend the religious sentiments of the Sikh community.
Profile of the Perpetrator
According to his LinkedIn profile, Bhushan Athale works as a freelance consultant specializing in Salesforce and Peoplesoft. He claims expertise in the complete ERP software development lifecycle (SDLC) using AGILE and Waterfall methodologies. Athale holds a Master of Computer Applications degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Dayton.
Legal Consequences of hate crime
If convicted, Athale faces severe penalties. The charge of interfering with federally protected activities carries a possible 10-year prison sentence, while the charge of transmitting an interstate threat could result in a maximum five-year sentence. Additionally, he could face fines up to $250,000 for each crime. A federal district court judge will determine the final sentence, considering various statutory factors and U.S. law. Sentencing Guidelines.
Investigation Findings
The DOJ’s investigation into Athale’s actions revealed a long history of making threats and comments based on religion. Documented incidents include threatening and offensive tweets directed at a former coworker through a business networking site. In these tweets, Athale expressed his animosity towards Pakistan and Muslims, explicitly stating, “I hate Pakistan” and “I hate Muslims.”
Escalation of Threats
Athale’s threats escalated beyond mere expressions of hatred. In one alarming message, he threatened violence against the coworker and their family, stating, “I just don’t know how to kill your whole family, including you, but I hate you.” This message underscored the seriousness of his threats and his potential danger to others. Further, Athale sought suggestions on how to harm the coworker, asking, “Please tell me. I will solve the problem.” He also suggested that hiring a Jew would be met with approval, stating, “They will be quite thrilled if I hire a Jew, most likely.” This comment revealed his discriminatory views and his belief that others would celebrate such actions.
Conclusion
The DOJ’s findings present a troubling picture of Bhushan Athale’s behavior. It is characterized by religious intolerance and explicit threats. Athale shows a readiness to inflict harm based on his prejudices. This case underscores the importance of addressing hate speech and threats seriously. It aims to prevent potential violence and ensure the safety and well-being of targeted individuals. The federal charges against Athale highlight the commitment of law enforcement agencies. They aim to protect civil rights and hold individuals accountable for hate crimes.
