ITHACA, NY (WENY) -- A former Cornell University student has pleaded guilty to federal charges, after he made online posts threatening to kill fellow Cornell students who were Jewish back in October.

Twenty-one year old Patrick Dai pleaded guilty to a charge of posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications, according to federal authorities. Dai was a junior at Cornell when he posted threatening messages to an online discussion forum, including that he was "gonna shoot up 104 west" and "gonna bomb jewish house." 104 West is a multi-cultural and kosher dining hall on campus, located next to the Center for Jewish Living at Cornell University. Additionally, Dai posted that he was going to harm, rape, or kill Jewish students or other Jewish people he encountered. The posts were made on October 28th and 29th of 2023, just weeks after the Hamas attack in Israel.

“Patrick Dai’s disturbingly violent threats caused widespread panic and fear throughout Cornell University’s Jewish community,” said Special Agent in Charge Craig L. Tremaroli of the FBI Albany Field Office. “I want to commend our Joint Terrorism Task Force and our outstanding partners from New York State Police and Cornell University Police Department for their swift coordination in identifying and arresting Dai. The FBI will not tolerate any individual who terrorizes our communities and will work closely with our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure our college campuses remain a safe space for students to continue their education free of fear and hate.”

Dai will be sentenced in federal court in Syracuse in August, where he faces five years in prison, a fine up to $250,000 restitution and three years of supervised release.

Dai's threats drew international attention, coming at a time of a spike in hate crimes targeting Jewish and Muslim populations across the United States, since the war between Hamas and Israel began. The incident even drew a visit from New York Governor Kathy Hochul to campus to condemn the violence. 

“This defendant is being held accountable for vile, abhorrent, antisemitic threats of violence levied against members of the Cornell University Jewish community,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “In the elevated threat environment that we have seen since Oct. 7th, we have been vigilant and stand ready to hold perpetrators of hate crimes accountable. Antisemitic threats of violence are unacceptable in our society, and we will not tolerate this conduct. Particularly at institutions of higher learning, people should feel safe to pursue educational opportunities. The Justice Department takes seriously our obligation to protect students from hatred and harassment and will continue to use every tool available to ensure that students are able to feel safe and secure.”

Originally from Pittsford, NY, Dai was studying engineering at Cornell. 

The case was investigated by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, as well as New York State Police, Cornell University Police and the Ithaca Police Department.