Oregon man charged in bomb threat scheme targeting Jewish hospitals in New York

One hospital forced into lockdown and partial evacuation following hoax

August 23, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, one of the most well-known Jewish hospitals in the area, serving a large and diverse community. Photo: Jim Henderson/Wikimedia Foundation

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An Oregon man was charged with orchestrating a series of bomb threats and swatting incidents that targeted Jewish hospitals and care centers in New York City and Long Island, according to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday in Brooklyn federal court.

Domagoj Patkovic, 31, was arrested at his home in Portland and is accused of making false bomb threats that caused panic and disrupted health care facilities, some of which were forced into lockdown and partial evacuation.

The indictment charges Patkovic with conspiring to make threats concerning explosives, transmitting threatening communications, and conveying false information about explosives.

“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 U.S. Attorney 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.”

According to court filings, the bomb threats began in May 2021, with Patkovic and others making anonymous phone calls to Jewish hospitals and care centers. The threats often included claims of explosive devices being planted in the facilities. One call in September 2021 led to a lockdown and partial evacuation of a hospital on Long Island, though no explosives were found.

Patkovic allegedly made at least six separate bomb threats, including one in which he called local law enforcement, who had responded to a 911 alert from one of the hospitals. The indictment also reveals that Patkovic livestreamed the calls on social media.

If convicted, Patkovic faces up to 155 years in prison. The case is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York’s National Security & Cybercrime Section, with assistance from the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

The social media company involved in this case, where Patkovic allegedly livestreamed his bomb threats, is not held liable due to protections under Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. This federal law shields online platforms from liability for content posted by users, meaning they are not considered publishers of user-generated content. Although the platform hosted the livestreams, Section 230 generally exempts social media companies from being held responsible for the actions of their users unless they are directly involved in illegal activity or fail to comply with specific legal obligations, such as court orders.

While Section 230 currently shields social media companies from liability for user-generated content, there is growing debate over whether these platforms should bear some responsibility, particularly when they facilitate harmful activities like livestreaming threats. Critics argue that stronger oversight and accountability are necessary to prevent the misuse of these platforms in cases like Patkovic’s.