A federal grand jury in Pittsburgh has charged six Pittsburgh-area residents with violating the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, obstructing justice, and conspiring to obstruct justice in relation to an attack on a Jewish man in Oakland in late September 2024.
The indictment details the 2 a.m. altercation between the unnamed victim and Muhammed Koc, 27, of Pittsburgh, Omar Alshmari, 28, of Monroeville, and others, which ended leaving the victim with “bodily injury that included physical pain, a split lip, and headaches.” Koc and Alshmari are charged with aiding and abetting one another, as well as injuring the victim because of race and religion.
The seven-count indictment named Koc and Alshmari, as well as 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 in a news release.
“This incident began with two defendants physically attacking an individual because of the victim’s Jewish identity,” said United States Attorney Troy 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.”
According to the indictment, on Sept. 27, 2024, at 2:01 a.m., the defendants (except for Piracha) were part of a group that made antisemitic statements to a passerby in Oakland upon seeing the individual’s necklace bearing a Star of David pendant. Violence followed, partially captured on nearby cameras.
The indictment also details social media messages and group chat conversations between Piracha and other defendants discussing the incident, during which Alshmari identified himself and Koc as two of the individuals listed in a University of Pittsburgh crime alert about the attack.
“Freedom of religion is a fundamental principle at the core of many communities across our nation,” said FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Richard Evanchec. “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 hate crime and obstruction of justice counts, a maximum total sentence of up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both is possible. For the conspiracy to obstruct justice count, a maximum total sentence of up to five years in prison is possible, as well as a fine of up to $250,000, or both.
“We are grateful to the FBI, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and the University of Pittsburgh Police Department for their tireless work in pursuing justice in this case,” said Shawn Brokos, Director of Community Security at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. “Their commitment to holding perpetrators of hate-motivated violence accountable sends a clear and necessary message: attacks targeting people for their Jewish identity will not go unanswered. We thank our law enforcement partners for standing with the Jewish community.”
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 University of Pittsburgh Police aided the FBI in the investigation leading to the indictment.