Federal prosecutors say eight people tied to the University of Michigan are charged in a plot to threaten campus leaders, law enforcement, and community institutions, including the Jewish Federation, using coordinated harassment, property damage, and online intimidation.

Federal authorities returned an indictment alleging that these individuals posted demands, planned and executed disruptive actions on campus, and targeted private homes and businesses. The case spans multiple states and includes claims of research into victims’ personal information and discussions of violent tactics.

According to the indictment, on October 20, 2023 the defendants publicly posted a list of demands aimed at University leadership, including a requirement that the University make a “full and complete divestment” from Israel and any businesses supporting Israel. The grand jury named eight defendants in the indictment:

• Zainab Aliasgar Hakim, age 23, of Canton, Michigan
• Amatullah Aliasgar Hakim, age 21 of Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Paige Elizabeth Feyock, age 26, of Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Ahmet Kerem Korkaya, age 28, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Jonathan Hongru Zou, age 22, of Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Alexander Matthew Sepulveda, age 23, of Chicago, Illinois
• Mariam Muhammed Odeh, age 24, of Dearborn, Michigan
• Colin Hunter Weger, age 24, of Ann Arbor, Michigan

Prosecutors say the defendants were unhappy with the University’s response and “prepared to take action” through what they called “autonomous actions.” Those alleged actions included forcibly entering and occupying buildings, defacing property, blocking events, and posting photos and threats online to amplify intimidation.

“In America, we rule by law, not by fear. These alleged threats and attempts to terrorize government officials, businesses, and the Jewish Federation are anti-American. We will counter intimidation with justice,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon. The indictment traces a pattern of coordinated harassment following violence abroad that the conspirators cited as motivation.

After the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel, the indictment alleges the defendants and unindicted conspirators carried out a series of coordinated actions threatening University of Michigan leaders, law enforcement, and businesses. The conspirators publicly insisted they “must escalate, mobilize, and organize to demand divestment by any means necessary.”

Investigators allege the group met to identify targets and used the internet to compile personal addresses, photos, social and business connections, and other sensitive details. They allegedly discussed methods to harm targets and families, including poison, bombs, and psychological torture, and on May 21, 2024 Feyock and then-medical student Korkaya allegedly agreed to “kill,” “torment,” and “terrorize” their targets and families.

“No one has the right to threaten, intimidate, and coerce public officials, law enforcement officers, community institutions, or their families. In the dead of night, masked and hooded defendants allegedly threw noxious chemicals through the windows of families’ homes and taped demand letters to their front doors. At every step, they attempted to cover their tracks and delete evidence of their crimes. Those who engage in coordinated campaigns of threats and intimidation should expect to be held fully accountable under federal law,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “This multi-state operation led to the arrests of numerous defendants across Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin for alleged criminal activity committed within our state. I am grateful for the exceptional work of the dedicated FBI Detroit team, alongside our partners from FBI Chicago, FBI Milwaukee, University of Michigan Department of Public Safety, Ann Arbor PD, Huntington Woods PD, City of Plymouth PD, Bloomfield Twp PD, Canton PD, Chicago PD (Illinois), Milwaukee PD, Southfield PD, Novi PD, Romulus PD, West Bloomfield PD, Michigan State Police, Ypsilanti PD, Eastern Michigan University PD, and the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center, whose collaboration made this operation possible.”

https://x.com/TheJusticeDept/status/2064752553737535977

As described in the indictment, defendants traveled at night to targeted homes and businesses, spray-painted messages and symbols, and left demand notes and threats. Markings allegedly included inverted triangles, red handprints, and phrases like “INTIFADA” and “DIVEST NOW,” and perpetrators reportedly caulked doors shut, bike-locked entryways, broke windows, and threw glass jars filled with butyric acid and dye into houses.

Photographs of damage and warnings were allegedly posted online with “official statements” and further threats, such as “you cannot hide” and “we only come back stronger.” The indictment also charges two defendants with witness intimidation tied to efforts to stifle cooperation with federal authorities.

Referring to one victim, Korkaya stated his “entire family” was on his “hit list.” Feyock added that they should “get” the “kids” of two victims. Korkaya, referring to another victim, stated, “I’m gonna be the dirtiest f——g doctor ever / I’m gonna be [victim’s] doctor / poison her a– slowly.” Feyock agreed, “We need people following [victim] / get into that house then burn it down.”

The indictment says Hakim and Feyock plotted to confront a University student they believed might cooperate with authorities, warning that the student was “going to send us to federal prison.” Feyock told conspirators the person “has to be neutralized” and planned to “strip search” the student “to see if he is wearing a wire / not taking no chances with him.” Hakim and Feyock are charged with witness intimidation for the August 6, 2024 confrontation.

Alexander Matthew Sepulveda faces a charge of destruction of property to prevent seizure after allegedly participating in an autonomous action at the University provost’s home, throwing two glass jars filled with a blue substance and food compost through a window and spray-painting inverted red triangles and slogans including “Divest” and “Free Palestine.”

Prosecutors say that when law enforcement sought a search warrant for Sepulveda’s home in April 2025, an unindicted conspirator warned others in encrypted chats and Sepulveda allegedly cleared his phone and laptop in response. The indictment sets out potential penalties: Conspiracy to Transmit a Threat carries up to five years and fines up to $250,000; Conspiracy to Tamper with a Witness carries up to 20 years and fines up to $250,000; Destruction of Property to Prevent Seizure carries up to five years and fines up to $250,000.

The investigation was led by FBI Detroit with assistance from multiple state and local agencies, and the case will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah Resnick Cohen, Maggie Smith, Matthew Roth, and Robert Kuhn. An indictment is a formal charge and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.