Hit Lists, Arson Threats: 8 Tied To University Of Michigan Indicted In Massive Intimidation Case
Eight people connected to the University of Michigan are facing federal charges after allegedly running a targeted intimidation campaign against university officials, local businesses, and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.
According to the Department of Justice, the group publicly demanded the university divest from Israel and businesses supporting Israel following the October 7, 2023, attacks. When the university didn’t meet their demands, prosecutors say the group turned to coordinated “autonomous actions” to terrorize their targets.
The federal indictment details a disturbing escalation. The defendants allegedly researched the personal addresses, business ties, and families of their targets online. Under the cover of night, masked members of the group reportedly vandalized homes and businesses, caulked doors shut, locked entryways with bike locks, broke windows, and threw glass jars filled with dye and noxious butyric acid inside.
They also spray-painted phrases like “INTIFADA” alongside demand letters, threats, and symbols such as red handprints and inverted red triangles.
Private meetings and messages obtained by investigators allegedly show the group discussing using bombs, poison, and psychological torture. In one exchange, Ahmet Korkaya, a medical student at the time, reportedly said an entire family was on his “hit list” and talked about slowly poisoning a victim, stating, “I’m gonna be the dirtiest f——- doctor ever.” Paige Feyock allegedly agreed, suggesting they “get into that house then burn it down” and explicitly talked about going after the children of two victims.
“In America, we rule by law not by fear,” U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. stated. “These alleged threats and attempts to terrorize government officials, businesses, and the Jewish Federation are anti-American. We will counter intimidation with justice.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan emphasized that those engaging in coordinated threats will be held fully accountable. “No one has the right to threaten, intimidate, and coerce public officials, law enforcement officers, community institutions, or their families,” she said.
Beyond the physical threats, the indictment outlines attempts to cover up the crimes. Feyock and Zainab Hakim are charged with witness intimidation for allegedly planning to strip-search a fellow student they suspected of wearing a wire for federal authorities. Feyock reportedly called the student a “liability” who had to be “neutralized.” Additionally, Alexander Sepulveda is accused of wiping his phone and laptop after a co-conspirator warned him about an impending police search warrant.
The eight defendants—Zainab Hakim, Amatullah Hakim, Paige Feyock, Ahmet Korkaya, Jonathan Zou, Alexander Sepulveda, Mariam Odeh, and Colin Weger—face serious penalties if convicted. The witness tampering charges carry up to 20 years in prison, while the conspiracy and property destruction charges each carry up to five years. Fines for the charges could reach $250,000.