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Pueblo plotter pleads guilty

The US Dept. of Justice announced on Oct. 15 that Richard Holzer pleaded guilty to federal hate crime and explosive charges for plotting to blow up Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Pueblo, Colorado.

Temple Emanuel Pueblo (Marc Schuman)

ADL Regional Director Scott Levin issued the following statement:

“The news of a plot to blow up the historic Temple Emanuel Synagogue in Pueblo last year shook that city’s Jewish community to its core and alarmed all of Colorado’s Jewish community.

“Almost a year later, we welcome the hate crime charges in this case and commend local, state and federal law enforcement agencies for thwarting the plot and aggressively prosecuting the case.

“We especially thank the Pueblo Police Dept., Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office, FBI and the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado.

“We also recognize the leaders and members of Temple Emanuel Synagogue for their strength and resilience.

“Hate crimes damage the social fabric of our society and fragment communities. It is critical that those who seek to harm others because of their religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation or any other defining characteristic, be held accountable for their crimes.

“Today’s announcement is a striking reminder that hate crimes will not be tolerated in Colorado.”

Last year’s plot to blow up Temple Emanuel was one of 61 cases of anti-Semitic harassment and vandalism that the ADL tracked in 2019 — a large increase over the previous two years.




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