WASHINGTON—Javier Alan Correa, 24, of Corpus
Christi, Texas, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Nashville, Tennesee,
today and charged with violating the civil rights of members of a Murfreesboro,
Tennessee mosque. Correa is charged in the Middle District of Tennessee with
one count of intentionally obstructing by threat of force the free exercise of
religious beliefs and one count of using an instrument of interstate commerce
to communicate a threat to destroy a building by means of an explosive device.
The indictment was announced today by Assistant Attorney General Thomas E.
Perez for the Civil Rights Division; Jerry E. Martin, U.S. Attorney for the
Middle District of Tennessee; and Aaron T. Ford, Special Agent in Charge of the
Memphis Division of the FBI.
According to the indictment, on
September 5, 2011, Correa called on a cell phone from Corpus Christi to the
Islamic Center of Murfreesboro and left a threatening, explicative-ridden voice
message saying, amongst other things, “On September 11, 2011, there’s going to
be a bomb in the building.“
“The Department of Justice, the FBI, and
our law enforcement partners intend to protect the rights afforded under the
Constitution to all individuals, including the most basic right to exercise
freedom of religious beliefs,” said Jerry E. Martin, U.S. Attorney of the
Middle District of Tennessee. “The controversy and criminal activity
surrounding the construction of this particular place of worship has impeded
the ability of people to exercise that most basic right. We will continue to
monitor the progress of construction and legal proceedings at the local level
to insure these citizens are able to enjoy all basic liberties guaranteed under
the Constitution.”
“The FBI is tasked with defending civil
rights in the United States and takes very seriously its responsibilities to
protect people of all religions from intimidation and violence,” said Aaron T.
Ford, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the FBI. “The FBI and
our law enforcement partners pursued this investigation with great tenacity and
will always strive to ensure those who attempt to take religious freedoms from
others are brought to face justice.”
Correa faces a maximum penalty of 20
years for the count one and 10 years for count two of the indictment, as well
as a fine of up to $250,000 for each offense.
This case was investigated by the FBI
and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Deneke and Civil Rights
Division Trial Attorney Adriana Vieco.
An indictment is merely an accusation.
All persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty and have the
right to a trial, at which, the government must bear the burden of proof beyond
a reasonable doubt.
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