Crime & Courts

Alaska man faces federal charges accusing him of threatening to kill congregants at California synagogue

An Alaska resident has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges he threatened to kill congregants at a California synagogue, the Justice Department announced Monday.

The indictment filed last week accuses 49-year-old William Alexander of calling an unidentified synagogue on or about Nov. 1, 2019, and leaving a voicemail threatening to kill the congregants.

Alexander’s hometown in Alaska wasn’t available Monday. Yulonda Candelario, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Anchorage, said Alexander was in Alaska when he left the voicemail. It wasn’t clear why he singled out that synagogue.

The voicemail was the only call Alexander made, Candelario said.

Alexander is charged with one count of transmission of an interstate threat and one count of obstruction of free exercise of religious beliefs.

Zaz Hollander

Zaz Hollander is a veteran journalist based in the Mat-Su and is currently an ADN local news editor and reporter. She covers breaking news, the Mat-Su region, aviation and general assignments. Contact her at zhollander@adn.com.

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