After sending at least 42 threatening letters to over 25 American Jewish sites, a Maryland man pleaded guilty on Monday to 17 counts of threatening communications and eight counts of obstructing the exercise of religious belief.
Garrett Park resident Clift Seferlis faces a maximum penalty of 19 years in prison, three years supervised release, and a $5,650,000 fine for sending threatening letters and postcards to Jewish museums, community centers, schools, non-profits, a kosher delicatessen, and synagogues in Washington, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
Some of the letters, which were sent between March 2024 and June 2025, threatened arson or explosive attacks on the sites.
Many also contained references to Gaza, Israel, or incidents in which Jews were attacked or killed, and suggested that the recipients may become victims of similar attacks.
One Pennsylvania institution received a May letter warning that they would become isolated and run out of money.
'Hatred at all time high'
"The hatred toward you all, your [institution], and especially the nation of Israel is at an all-time high and is only getting worse," read the letter attributed to the 55-year-old suspect. "Do you – deep down – reallycare [sic] – really – about what is going on in Gaza? Will it take something happening to your beloved [institution] to make that happen."
Other similar letters received by the Jewish institution noted its “many big open windows" and made reference to "Kristallnacht" and the need to "rebuild" in the future.