ELIZABETH, PENNSYLVANIA — Edward Arthur Owens Jr. of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, received a sentence of 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The sentencing was announced by the Pennsylvania Western District U.S. Attorney's Office for charges involving threatening a public official and making false statements to government agents regarding a licensed pistol.
Owens sent a Facebook message to the public official saying, "We're coming for you, be afraid. Go back to Israel or better yet, exterminate yourself and save us the trouble. One hundred and nine countries for a reason." A May 8 memorandum opinion showed that Owens used a pseudonym for the Facebook account because he believed the victim was Jewish and supported Israel.
Law enforcement records indicate Owens' girlfriend ended their relationship after being questioned and reported that he had expressed antisemitic views since 2023. Ten days before sending the official threat, Owens texted a friend: "The U.S. should've fought with Germany in WWII. We fucked up letting them Jews and Communists have their way."
On the same day he sent the threat, Owens searched for Pittsburgh Jews on Facebook. Five days later, he conducted Facebook searches for NYC synagogues and the term "dancing Israelis."
Senior U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer mentioned the impact of Owens' actions during the hearing, stating, "The threats caused real fear and trepidation for the victim, causing them to change their way of life." Richard Evanchec, FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge, issued a statement regarding the case. Evanchec said, "Nearly 250 years ago, this country fought to establish a foundation of mutual respect and security for every citizen. The threats made by this individual go beyond just hate-fueled words; it is an attack on the very principles of our United States. Hatred and deception have no place here."
Owens informed FBI agents that his registered firearms were stored with his mother, not at his residence. FBI agents subsequently searched Owens' vehicle and located a pistol registered to him. This led to a false statement charge against Owens based on his earlier claim.