Ex-Cornell Student Receives 21-Month Sentence For Antisemitic Threats, Defense Cites Autism, Plans Appeal

Patrick Dai, a former Cornell University student, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for posting antisemitic threats on the university’s website. His sentencing followed a guilty plea in April and was handed down by Chief Judge Brenda Sannes in Syracuse. Despite Dai’s claims that his intent was to raise awareness of the atrocities committed by Hamas, his posts were seen as a serious offense and a direct threat to the Jewish community on campus.

Dai’s defense attorney, Lisa Peebles, intends to appeal the sentence, challenging the interpretation of federal sentencing guidelines in this case. Peebles argues that Dai’s autism diagnosis should be factored into the case, suggesting that it may have contributed to his poor decision-making. She also pointed out that Dai had already served nearly 10 months in jail since his November arrest.

Prosecutors, however, pushed for a sentence in the 27 to 33-month range, emphasizing the severity of Dai’s actions. Although Judge Sannes ultimately delivered a sentence lower than the guideline range, she acknowledged the seriousness of the threats and their impact on the campus community.

The case revolves around a series of threatening posts Dai made shortly after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. His posts included calls for violence against Jewish people, including threats to bomb a Jewish house and shoot Jewish students. These comments deeply alarmed the campus and broader community, especially during a period of heightened global tensions.

Following his arrest, Dai retracted his statements and issued an apology, with Peebles attributing his outburst to comments from a Cornell professor excited by the Hamas attack. Despite Dai’s mental health struggles, prosecutors insisted that his actions were inexcusable, describing them as acts of terror that spread fear among students and horrified the nation.